Mortar for Brick Steps

Howdy all - Got a job that involves laying second hand reds on a concrete base for a small flight of garden steps. Never been really sure about what the mortar mix should be. My fear is a standard brickies mortar mix (6:1:1/2 lime) will fail eventually given the hammering it gets from feet, barrows and the weather. I have used a stronger washed sand, plasticiser mix before and this has stood the test of time (15 years anyway), but I don't like the colour and it is a mongrel to lay. ...

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