Groundworks for the log cabin sauna

Righty-ho. Here's an update on our sauna project.  At the end of this, you still won't see the finished cabin. Now, if you want to see the finished sauna - look at the update:  Baby it's hot outside

As usual, it's more work than we bargained for. 

Day one of Lenny and Connor (and the OH).

Our good friend the cement mixer is back.

Does my bum look big in this? I hope so, because I'm trying my hand at hodding. Never thought I'd actually manage to. According to our brickie, the best hodders are short and stout in stature. ;-)
Here's more about this old way of carrying bricks: Brick hod [Wikipedia].

Oh, who is this beautiful lady sitting amongst the rubble? Answer: a cousin who departed soon after.

The wall's almost finished. Don't tell the Donald that we got there first.

Steps prepared for whatever we decide will go on top of them. 

Shower area with a drain to carry water away from the foundation of the wall. It'll just soak away into the garden. 

At least Lenny's still making jokes. Must be tea o'clock. 

Rubble, rubble and more rubble going in behind the wall. All of it from the old concrete and bricks that we removed from the garden.

Preparing the base for the log cabin sauna.

My new best friend - the waka waka plate.

Topping off the MOT with sand (or building sand castles).

Putting the screeding rods in place...

...to make sure everything's nice and level. 

Laying the paving slabs (courtesy of my boss, who donated half of them).

Almost done. Paving slabs surrounded by blue engineering bricks at the front. 

Setting the drain for the outdoor shower area. 

It's an Aco HexDrain Brickslot (a donation from a happy customer of Lenny's - thanks for that). The drain may be plastic but it's posh. Ok?

Bedded into MOT. 

Lenny cutting the grey limestone slabs (also donated by one of his customers) that will create the shower area. 

Hey presto! Took a few times of taking it up and bedding it back down again to get the right slope and stop it from wobbling. 

After much deliberation, we decided to lay the paving like stepping stones with shingle in between. Rather than butting them up. I'd like to plant low-growing herbs or saxifrage in the shingle.

Bit of topsoil in between. 

Feierabendbier.

Next weekend - tackling the rest of the concrete slab.

My new, new best friend - the breaker.

Now, if you want to see the finished sauna - look at the update:  Baby it's hot outside