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Original poster

What did you do for your 40th birthday?

96 replies

40soon · 01/05/2023 21:18

Turning 40 later this year and would like to do something special. Would love to know what others did & get some inspiration!

OP posts:
billycat321 · 01/05/2023 22:57

DH got us tickets for centre court at Wimbledon. Left 2yo daughter with friend. Ten years later on 50th stood outside local infants school to collect 6yo son!

Sparklybutold · 01/05/2023 23:00

Not a lot tbh. But I've gotten used to not celebrating milestones. It does make me sad, but it is what it is.

ReadtheReviews · 01/05/2023 23:09

It was during covid lockdown. If it hadn't been, we would have done the Crystal Maze!

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Events & celebrations
mynameiscalypso · 01/05/2023 23:14

I'm in a similar position and trying to work out what I want to do. Part of me wants a fun night of cocktails and dancing but I barely drink these days and want my DS (who will be 4) to be there too. So maybe something afternoon-y? But then I'll probably regret not doing something big. I don't really fancy going away particularly although a friend was telling me about a champagne tasting tour they did in champagne which did sound pretty epic...

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 01/05/2023 23:16

I was nearly 8 months pregnant and it was really hot (August)

I've never been a big birthday celebrator though - I would have just been happy to be less hot!

Happierwithouthim · 01/05/2023 23:16

Weekend of my actual birthday spa day with two girls from work & met up with boyfriends & husbands after for a few drinks, meal with my school friends with another girl who had birthday around the same time, we've been doing this all year long! Another night dinner with my family their spouses and children, and finally have houses booked bank holiday weekend in June with 3 other couples and a few friends

I was pregnant for my 30th, subsequently separated & divorced, then lost my boyfriend suddenly after 3 years so I want to celebrate life & friendship etc because you never know what's around the corner

AlyssumandHelianthus · 01/05/2023 23:18

Massive house party. Rolled up the carpets. Hired a mixologist who set up a bar in the house. Dancing, cocktails, loads of mates & the best thing was DH organised the whole thing so no stress for me.

TigerDroveAgain · 01/05/2023 23:19

Had a baby, and a bunch of tulips

Enko · 01/05/2023 23:19

Basically nothing and it was painful. Having organised special birthday for dhs 40th I expected the same attention from.him only he didn't bother nor did he get a baby sitter so he took me out for lunch..

It was my.2nd most disappointing birthday.

For my 50th I arranged something for myself..for his 60th I did f all. I've finally learned but I will.be honest and say it hurts. He knows but simply doesn't get it as he doesn't do birthdays...

Pick something lovely and have a lovely time.

2chocolateoranges · 01/05/2023 23:21

My mum wanted to do something with me, my dh wanted a family celebration, my 2 best friends wanted a night out, my work colleagues wanted to celebrate, my school friends wanted to celebrate so I decided to have a party and have one night out with all my nearest and dearest. I had a ball. Great night celebrating and I'd never had a big birthday party before so it was lovely.

Magnalux · 01/05/2023 23:21

Booked 2 nights away in a nice hotel for me and my family.. told my siblings and parents where we would be if they wanted to join us but that there was no pressure.. they all came with their families and we had a fab weekend!

LouBaloo · 01/05/2023 23:28

We went to Bangkok for 4 nights at the Bangkok Oriental then Ko Lipe for 7 nights in a villa.

Silkierabbit · 01/05/2023 23:33

Nothing much really, always put myself last then got cancer at 48 and thought will definitely celebrate 50th. And did went to lovely spa hotel in Azores with beautiful tropical gardens and thermal pools and then on to Porto and was wonderful with DH. Needed to book all myself but was fine. I was very spoilt.

islandgirl21 · 01/05/2023 23:43

Six week holiday in the Caribbean

Yesterdayseemssofaraway · 01/05/2023 23:48

Had a very brief lunch at an Italian restaurant with Dh only as I was so sick as was newly pregnant after years of trying to conceive. I think we went straight home and I threw up 😅Not how I expected to spend my 40th, but I was happy

Andrea87 · 01/05/2023 23:49

Husband arranged for our 2 DC to be looked after for the weekend and we went to Paris. Lovely!

MattTebbuttsDenimShirt · 01/05/2023 23:50

Went knocking round the neighbours houses looking for our family cat.

Found out she was taken away Christmas Eve morning. Then I had to break it to my 3 year old.

Worst day ever.

MattTebbuttsDenimShirt · 01/05/2023 23:52

MattTebbuttsDenimShirt · 01/05/2023 23:50

Went knocking round the neighbours houses looking for our family cat.

Found out she was taken away Christmas Eve morning. Then I had to break it to my 3 year old.

Worst day ever.

She'd been run over and had died.

She wasn't just taken away.

I'm glad my daughter had Christmas Day before her gorgeous little world imploded.

honeyfox · 01/05/2023 23:57

Had great plans, a wedding that weekend and we had a lovely small place booked nearby that did tapas in the evening.

Unfortunately my granny tried to die that weekend (not her first time) so got called away and spent that week in the hospital with her. Also met a friend of mine in the same ward with her granny in a similar situation, her 40th was two days before mine ☺️

My granny lived another three years after that and I don't regret spending that weekend with her for a minute. Her only child, my mum, had died seven years before and we were everything to each other.

ChocAuVin · 01/05/2023 23:58

Left my abusive marriage of nearly two decades.

5 years later I’m still dancing!

Happy birthday OP Daffodil

TheSaint01 · 02/05/2023 00:58

Absolutely nothing!
I don't like birthdays anyway ... so, no issue here.

Berlinlover · 02/05/2023 01:04

Went on a solo trip to Berlin.

sandgrown · 02/05/2023 01:13

40th was a shell suit party which was hilarious as most guests managed to find one . 50th was a barn dance in the village hall with a band and hot pot supper . It wasn’t licensed so we could take our own drink which made it a cheap night . 60th was a murder mystery evening in a local hotel . Actors gave clues and info between the courses of the meal and there were prizes for the winners . The hotel kindly provided us with a singer for dancing afterwards. To be honest I have chosen the theme of each party as I like organising it myself with help from family .

OldHouseLover · 02/05/2023 07:41

Dh took me to Paris for 3 nights with no dc & bought me a beautiful bag from the same parisian bag designer who designed the bag I used for our wedding.

We stayed in a beautiful little hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower. It was a magical few days.

Monkeybutt1 · 02/05/2023 07:49

Mine was in 2020 the day some lockdown restrictions were eased in summer so we had close family round for the first time in 4 months, it was brilliant.
The year after DH and I went to my fave Michelin starred restaurant and stayed at the hotel as we had originally planned to.