Day by day this past week I have watched the development of the foundations for the extension. A huge trench is dug, then accurate measuring strings are put in place with complicated-looking wooden supports, then concrete and gravel are poured to make a level after which the found walls are laid to include breathing bricks and drains. Eventually, the whole lot is in-filled and a sand and gravel base is now ready and waiting for a final screed of concrete prior to the joiners starting.
Makes a whole lot of sense of the parable about building a house on strong foundations. I am amazed at the skill and sheer number of hours of painstaking work.