Finally...

Have succeeded in making a decent yeast based pizza base from scratch.* Recipe from The New Zealand Flatters Cookbook by Lynne Melton. (I may post it late if people want). Not the most illustrious cookbook as it was left behind in a box of crap by previous inhabitants of Bradshaw Terrace. Nice fluffy texture to the base and rose well. Will try with added herbs and garlic next time.

I think attempting with non-dead yeast really helped...

And I think that the piece currently sitting on my plate may have cooled down enough not to burn the top of my mouth any more (though it is a bit late from the few bites earlier).

*I had tried before with Dad's recipe and failed miserably.