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Original poster

What did you do for your 40th?

121 replies

idliketogetdownnow · 28/05/2023 19:46

Mine is coming up and I can't decide what to do.

Funds are reasonable but we don't have childcare options so probably need to do something kid-friendly (both DC under 5).

What did you do? Grateful for any inspiration!

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 29/05/2023 07:00

Some lovely celebrations here, I'm envious. I always enjoyed celebrating my birthday. Awful marriage & too many ruined occasions ended that.

For my 40th, my DC were still quite little & they organised some lovely gifts, a banner & drawings which was lovely. Very few other people knew & I didn't do anything else. A few months later on a family holiday, my own family organised a cake as part of a meal out in a really average restaurant that I wouldn't choose myself & it turned out that was their celebration for me. It sounds a bit ungrateful but I was so upset (inside!) - I wouldn't have minded nothing but if they'd wanted to do a meal I'd at least like it to be one that I enjoyed not the one that suited their small DC best.

I'd love to have a proper birthday celebration but I can't see it happening.

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/05/2023 07:01

We planned a holiday to Cornwall with all the family, 10 of us. We’d found this amazing house just outside of St Ives, we were paying for the bulk of it - think it was £1600 for the week.

turns out my birthday was 4 weeks after the first lockdown in 2020 so we actually didn’t do any of it and nothing was re arranged.

but something like that might be nice?

TiredOfCleaning · 29/05/2023 07:03

had a big joint party with DH. 60 people, sit down meal. In some ways it was like another wedding party.

I enjoyed it at the time but cannot imagine doing it again. For my 50th (next year) i am hoping we can go to the Maldives as a family of 4 just us. DH is reluctant though because he hates going away.

TiredOfCleaning · 29/05/2023 07:03

shoulditbethishard1 · 29/05/2023 07:01

We planned a holiday to Cornwall with all the family, 10 of us. We’d found this amazing house just outside of St Ives, we were paying for the bulk of it - think it was £1600 for the week.

turns out my birthday was 4 weeks after the first lockdown in 2020 so we actually didn’t do any of it and nothing was re arranged.

but something like that might be nice?

ooh I like that idea! I am sorry you did not get to do it. Thanks

jay55 · 29/05/2023 07:10

Went to Vegas, but I don't have kids to arrange for.

StellaOlivetti · 29/05/2023 07:11

I share a birthday with my mum. We went to New York for a long weekend when I was 40 and she was 61. I’d never been to America before, so it was wonderful.

Heatherjayne1972 · 29/05/2023 07:11

Nothing for my 40th - well exh bought me a camera
but for my 50th my new chap took me to Paris

maybe a trip/ long weekend away with special people - somewhere you always wanted to go

SallyWD · 29/05/2023 07:25

I had three celebrations:

  1. a weekend away in the Lake District with DH and children 2)a family meal in London with parents, siblings, aunts, uncles cousins etc,
  2. an afternoon/evening in the city where I used to live and my closest friends still live. Afternoon tea, followed by drinks and then dinner.
pussycatinfluffyslippers · 29/05/2023 07:30

Got married.
If he forgets my Birthday, he forgets our Anniversary too.😂🤦‍♀️

itsgettingweird · 29/05/2023 07:32

Went out for a meal outdoors.

It's was in 2020 so we were quite limited to what we could do!!!!!

But I think a day out somewhere and perhaps an overnight stay would be lovely with your children.

SiobahnRoy · 29/05/2023 07:32

Tour of veuve cliquot champagne house en route to a lovely villa in Provence, with DH and our 6yo twins. One of our best ever holidays.

itsgettingweird · 29/05/2023 07:32

InMySpareTime · 28/05/2023 22:30

I had a book swap party, everyone brought two books, one for me and one to swap.
Everyone left with a new book.
I ended up with about 50 books to add to my bookshelves.

Love this

luckylavender · 29/05/2023 07:34

We went to New York for the weekend. Stayed at the Waldorf.

dubyalass · 29/05/2023 07:35

Fish and chips on the beach with friends. It was lovely.

ilovebagpuss · 29/05/2023 08:35

Garden party with family and friends small group. I don't like big parties so it was just right. Then I think I did some nice meals out/afternoon tea type things with other groups of friends which spread out the fun.

RoseRobot · 29/05/2023 08:44

DC were very young so we went to CentreParks for the weekend, booked a CentreParks babysitter who was a lovely local granny, and went for dinner on site for about an hour. DH gave me a diamond pendant. Then when we got home, there was a surprise party of all our friends there.

MegBusset · 29/05/2023 08:50

Had two boozy nights out with friends (two groups in different cities)
Took myself to see a big concert
Went caravanning with DH and DC and had fish and chips by the sea on the actual day

it was great :)

Stepbystep100 · 29/05/2023 08:53

Isles of Scilly break by helicopter. A bucket list thing.

I'd love to go back but not bothered about helicopter any more. It was very noisy.

SilverGlitterBaubles · 29/05/2023 08:54

PIL took the DCs and we went to Italy for the weekend Smile

Ambi · 29/05/2023 08:56

Fuck all thanks to lockdown. I'd planned a trip to Las Vegas but it went tits up. I still want to go but it seems too frivolous when we need to spend on XY and Z.

Whichwhatnow · 29/05/2023 08:57

My husband turns 40 this year and we're going to Canada, to see a band he's loved for 20 years! And to meet up with (online) friends he's never met and go hiking.

I turn 40 the following year and we're planning a safari. I wouldn't like a party but we both want to do something a bit special!

mondaytosunday · 29/05/2023 09:11

Well this won't help you as we didn't have children.
My fiancé took me to a surprise weekend at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saison near Oxford. It was AMAZING. But must have cost about £4000.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 29/05/2023 09:52

Whichwhatnow · 29/05/2023 08:57

My husband turns 40 this year and we're going to Canada, to see a band he's loved for 20 years! And to meet up with (online) friends he's never met and go hiking.

I turn 40 the following year and we're planning a safari. I wouldn't like a party but we both want to do something a bit special!

Just being nosey, but which band?

Toddlerteaplease · 29/05/2023 09:57

Had afternoon tea with my work colleagues.

claireymrsd · 29/05/2023 10:00

I went for afternoon tea at a local restaurant with about 30 family and friends (ladies only and we all dressed up in nice dresses etc)
That was the weekend before my birthday and then on the day we visited a Gin Distillery and had a nice pub lunch.

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