Restless Legs and Wall Falling Down

Our neighbour’s garden wall came down this week. One second the 10 metre long wall was there then the next it was gone. 

The whole thing was very dramatic and was caught on ccvt cameras which showed the ground shaking like a mini earthquake as it tumbled in a cloud of dust. Imagine looking at a Fred Dibner demolition of a block of flats but on a smaller scale and you’ll have a good idea of the spectacle.

The six foot high wall was built in the 1950’s from old concrete blocks and had a suitable foundation so even though it was a single block thick there shouldn’t have been an issue with stability. There were two problems that we could see for why the wall and fence came down in such a dramatic way.

Attached to the wall was another 4 feet of vertical wooden fencing with the posts only fitted to the blocks by bolts and not dug into the ground which was covered in huge amounts of ivy. Over the years the pressure on one side got greater and greater until everything collapsed. 

If extra height is needed for a block wall by adding a fence it’s a good idea to secure the vertical posts into the ground and having the fence free standing from the way. That way it won’t put pressure on it.

It’s a cautionary tale about fixing extra things onto walls. Sometimes they are just designed to hold themselves up and not another fence or heavy climbers. 

The growing season is slowing down now but I am still sowing seeds and taking no notice of the sowing times on packets. This week I planted some catnip, mimosa sensitive plants and a new ground cover called Herniaria glabra or rupturewort. It’s a really hardy little known perennial known to be nearly indestructible.  It’s an excellent choice for growing between flagstones or growing as a lawn substitute. The tiny leaves create a dense evergreen carpet, becoming bronze in winter. I’m hopefully going to be adding it to my list of groundcover plants for sale next year.

Reflecting and Restless

I’m in a reflective mood about my career choice in horticulture.  I have always loved growing things. I don’t know may people who had over 70 types of houseplants in their home as a teenager and it was the thing that gave me the most pleasure, distraction and comfort. But I was always a restless child and my family refused to sit with me on the settee as I couldn’t stop moving my legs, jiggling them up and down and getting up every ten minutes to walk around. As an adult my own family still won’t sit with me. I used to have the same issues at school and couldn’t sit still for more than a minute.

It turns out that the issue with my legs affects up to one in ten people so at least one of you reading this might have something called “Restless Legs Syndrome” This is why after leaving school I couldn’t sit in an office and relished the fact of a horticultural course that had at least 90% practical work outside. It wasn’t until recently that I realised RLS was a thing but when I found out I had it,  it was like a lightbulb going on in my brain.

Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a common condition of the nervous system that causes an overwhelming, irresistible urge to move the legs. Some people have the symptoms of restless legs syndrome occasionally, while others have them every day. The symptoms can vary from mild to severe. In severe cases, restless legs syndrome can be very distressing and disrupt daily activities; thankfully mine doesn’t get that bad although it is worse at night which can mess up sleep patterns. Some people fall into a depression with it too.

What causes restless legs syndrome?

In the majority of cases, there's no obvious cause of restless legs syndrome but it can run in families.

Some neurologists believe the symptoms of restless legs syndrome may have something to do with how the body handles a chemical called dopamine. Dopamine is involved in controlling muscle movement. There could be other factors like kidneys and iron deficiency but as I have had it since I was a child I’m quite sure that’s not the case.  Smoking drinking and stress can agitate the condition as well. 

So many people go down the medication route for RLS and social media is awash with suggestions about what prescriptions to take but all I can see is that nothing really works. All we can do is lead a stress free life, do a bit of stretching and keep active.

Next time you see a dedicated gardener spare a thought for them being on the go all the time. It might be the only time they feel relaxed and at ease with the world.

UPDATE

The wall has been replaced with a sturdy fence