The Brew Cabin

Hi to everybody, I have finally succombed to the wifes nagging and started doing that patio.I have around 18sq metres to pave and she has chosen marshalls clay chapelgate pavers.I have removed the original concrete and dug down through the clay probably a bit too deep.I am using a base of crusher and then a base of sharp sand both around 50mm thick.In some places I have been a bit overzealous and am around 200mm down below my surface layer instead of my intended 160.Can I just chuck the clay soil back in and hope it compacts down with a wacker or would it be best to just use more crusher?I would rather not as I have calculated need around 1.8 tons and have ordered 2 so not too much to spare.
I have a bad back for all my efforts having shifted over 9 tonnes of concrete and soil over the last 3 days so I am taking a week off to recover and hope to start again over the weekend!!My question is can I work on the patio while it is raining i.e laying crusher and or sand or will this affect the finished patio?
Also I am using clay pavers so do I need to not only use a rubber mat on the wacker but also spread a generous layer of kiln dried sand on top too?
My main worries besides whether I will be physically able to finish what I have started! Is obviously the levels, it is 2.4 metres from the house so the slope should be 60 mm and should be laid right up to the wall of the house?
Can anyone confirm I am going in the right direction thanks

Don't make up levels with excavated clay soil - add more 'crusher run', even if it means buying in an extra tonne or so. Clay will not compact as well as granular sub-base material, so, if you 'skimp' by chucking in the clay, the odds are that the paving will start to sink in a few months, and then your missus will be on at you again! ;)

You can work in the rain, if you're mad keen. It will do you more harm than it will the blocks, but, as long as it's not absolutely chucking down, both you and the paving should pull through. :)

A rubber sole on the base of the plate compactor is handy, but not absolutely essential. You can use an old blanket or even a donkey jacket wrapped around the plate, if you find that the vibration is spalling the pavers. However, with a generous sand cushion on top of the blocks (6mm or so) the incidence of spalling is much reduced.

60mm fall over 2.4metres is more than ample, you'll be gflad to hear, and you can pave right upi to the house brickwork.