Merlin went home and showed Arthur and they immediately started to look for a home for the piece. The enjoyment was slightly ruined when Finna started to show symptoms of Kidney problems. She had been having regular tests since the poisoning attempt. The vets put her on special feed, and warned Merlin that due to her age she would have a shortened life. They kept a close eye on her and made her life as happy as they could.
Merlin was upset but took comfort in the idea she might go on for some time. The two men discussed it, and decided that while she still had a good quality of life there was no decision, but if she started to suffer they would do the kind thing. Merlin took comfort in the fact that she had had a good life. He knew he would be sad, but he thought he would cope if he thought he was doing the right thing by her.
Arthur managed to talk Merlin into going to visit Wisley gardens for the autumn colour. Hunith was happy to go as well. Merlin would use his motorised wheelchair and the folding one would be taken for Hunith. Luckily when Arthur purchased a new van for the Wheelchair, he got a slightly larger once than before. Merlin could get his big wheelchair in even easier. Percy and Kay went with them. But the dogs stayed at home with Gwen. It was about an hour travel each way but they had a really good day, and it Merlin loved the autumn colour. They had lunch out and it made a great end to what had been a busy summer.
In October the whole bungalow was in upset once more as a new kitchen was being fitted. A small cooker was put in the utility room, and one of the spare bedrooms was used to store everything out of the cupboards. It was a long job and took three weeks. Arthur insisted if they were going to do it they would do everything, so the walls and floors were redone, as well as all the cupboards and work surfaces. The old one had been very good quality and lasted well over twenty years. This one he hoped would last for just as long if not longer. Next year Arthur planned on the guest bathrooms being done. Arthur said he wanted to sort everything out, before they got to old. Merlin laughed at him, saying they weren't doing any of the work so what did it matter. At least their bathroom had been done in the major refurbishment of the lighting so wouldn't need touching.
Gwen and Mithian coped very well with the upheaval, and as the weather had been good they resorted to using the barbeque when they could at lunch times. It gave Merlin lots of opportunity to take the mickey out of Arthur as he made the all the decisions on fixtures and fittings. Merlin didn't know why Arthur couldn't leave it to Gwen and Mithian, as Arthur never cooked. All the old insults of prat, cabbage head and clot pole were regularly heard in the planning stages. Instead of being a stressful time for Merlin it was comic relief, even if Arthur did get worked up.
Once finished the ladies loved their new kitchen, especially their refurbished Aga, and there was a flurry of baking for days afterwards. Everyone agreed that Christmas cooking would be easier this year. The utility was also redone and a much larger freezer purchased. Once the workmen had gone it seemed very quiet, and Merlin complained that he wasn't getting so many cups of tea made for him. He was back to making some of his own.
Morgana and Leon still came to stay most weekends and were impressed by the new kitchen. This resulted in Morgana wanting hers updated which made Leon pull his hair out. She jokingly asked Arthur to design it for her and was surprised when he agreed. Merlin nearly strangled her.
In November Arthur was approached by Pellinor, the bodyguards all wanted a meeting with him. He wasn't prepared to say why, which worried Arthur. So the next afternoon he met the whole team in the lounge. Arthur asked Hunith to get Merlin to visit her, he didn't want Merlin worrying.