Allotments

I spent some of the morning dealing with the weeds that have invaded the courtyard one again.  The fine gravel I put down two years ago seems just to act as a seed bed.  I mostly just spend a couple of days removing them at each visit. I have resorted to weedkiller but nothing seems to prevent them returning in my absence.  It is too large an area to pave.  Any suggestions for a permanent solution on a postcard please!  I have begun to arrange meetings with the Mairie concerning the bell project and the social calendar is filling up with invitations to eat out tonight and on Sunday. This afternoon's walk took me past the allotments.  Some tulips have escaped the confines of the perimeter fence.