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Original poster

What did you do for your 40th

115 replies

TheBigFourOh · 17/09/2023 19:32

I'll be 40 next year and am looking for inspiration. What did you do to mark the milestone?

OP posts:
mindutopia · 17/09/2023 20:22

I honestly don’t remember. 😂 I would have been in 2020 so not lockdown but still COVID. I suspect I had a nice dinner at home (I think there were oysters involved as I love oysters) and I probably got a lie in and coffee in bed and some nice presents. That’s it. I’m not really a big birthday sort of person. I’d hate having people over for a party as they’d want to stay for the whole weekend and be entertained and I’d rather chill in my pjs and have a nap.

Rainsdropskeepfalling · 17/09/2023 20:23

@tothelefttotheleft thinking about it more, we're not really birthday people. Even the kids aren't bothered about presents. I did think about a big summer holiday but DS1 won't sanction getting on a plane so we'd need to find somewhere we can get to by train I guess.

Peakypolly · 17/09/2023 20:24

Sunday lunch at a rather gorgeous hotel... we had about 60, two tables of 10 for the littles. DH booked nannies and we had magicians and musicians.
Most people left around 6pm. 8 of us (plus DC, but they were exhausted and asleep by 7.30) stayed over and had board games and a fabulous buffet in our room. It was a perfect day.

Tulipvase · 17/09/2023 20:25

I had a weekend away with friends and we had a big party at home for my husband with lunch out the following day. He’s planning a big walk for his 50th.

tothelefttotheleft · 17/09/2023 20:28

Rainsdropskeepfalling · 17/09/2023 20:23

@tothelefttotheleft thinking about it more, we're not really birthday people. Even the kids aren't bothered about presents. I did think about a big summer holiday but DS1 won't sanction getting on a plane so we'd need to find somewhere we can get to by train I guess.

I'm not usually a present person but did buy myself a ring for a significant birthday recently! Just felt I needed to mark it in some way.

GlasgowGal82 · 17/09/2023 20:28

I actually had covid on my 40th birthday and was feeling pretty rotten, so I spent most of the day in bed and asleep

ZebraDanios · 17/09/2023 20:30

I got two gorgeous kittens!

thesugarbumfairy · 17/09/2023 20:31

I did a centreparcs weekend with one set of friends. There was probably about 10 of us. Was v. Relaxed.
Another set of friends i did an ovenighter that was a ladies night and dinner thing with spa access. That was more raucous. Embarrasingly i didnt realise ladies night meant there would be strippers. Id reached 40 having never seen male strippers 'perform' before, and its not something id do again, but we had a good time 😂

ilovebagpuss · 17/09/2023 20:33

Small garden party with family and friends staying over. Meal out with another group of friends.

Barbarianmumsy · 17/09/2023 20:35

Hoping to go to Venice

AliasGrape · 17/09/2023 20:38

I was getting married a few months later, so felt like I couldn’t invite basically the same people
for another big party so close to it.

My sisters came over for breakfast/ presents then DH and I went to a museum I love, then shopping for my gift and then for lots of cocktails and a really nice meal. Following day we went for Sunday dinner at a nice pub with close family and friends.

For DH’s I took him away for the weekend - UK city with lots of old pubs which is what he likes!

My friend hired a beach hut and we all went down with loads of nice food/ cake/ fizz - some of us stayed in a b&b others went home in the evening. It was a brilliant day.

supersop60 · 17/09/2023 20:42

Went walking on the Malvern Hills.
Got pregnant (I think)

Rockfordpeach · 17/09/2023 20:42

It's mine in a couple of weeks. I'll be going to a hotel with DP, carvery with family, Peppa pig world with the kids, spa with my best friend and drinks with some other friends. I never mark a birthday with anything beyond a takeaway so I'm looking forward to it

ScoobyDoesnt · 17/09/2023 20:47

Ran the London Marathon! Never again. But that said I’ll never be 40 again!

Nibletmum · 17/09/2023 20:47

Bounced up and down on a gym ball trying to evict a giant baby then cried over running shoes I couldn't use and gin I couldn't drink 😂

EllaPaella · 17/09/2023 20:49

Had a life saving operation which I am the most grateful for! Had a weekend away with girlfriends in a lovely cottage with a hot tub. Went to Rome with my Husband for a long weekend and had a weekend away city break with childhood friends who also all turned 40 the same year.

Uglyducklingswan · 17/09/2023 20:51

Went to Thailand, stayed in a much fancier hotel than we normally would and went snorkelling and hiking through jungles. It was our one family holiday that year too but normally we go to U.K. or European destinations so it was a huge treat. For DH’s we going to Japan!
we aren’t party people and we love adventure and family time.

TokyoSushi · 17/09/2023 20:55

Nothing, it was in March 2020, but in theory DH had organised a lovely party for me, which would have been nice had it happened!

Merrymaking · 17/09/2023 20:55

Went to Florida with extended family.

Twospaniels · 17/09/2023 20:55

Husband and I went to New York for my 40th. It was November and really cold, but most of the stores had their Christmas lights up and it was magical.

ehb102 · 17/09/2023 20:57

I decided that a party was me doing something for other people. So I took the money and went on my first game shoot. I had a wonderful day and made some friends who are still with me. Obviously you don't want to do the same thing, but think carefully about how much of what you plan is for you.

Chelsea26 · 17/09/2023 20:57

Went on safari to Kenya on my own and had the best time, then a party in Soho House when I got back, brunch with my mum and sister followed by football with my dad and brothers on the actual day - It was fabulous!

MrsHamlet · 17/09/2023 20:57

Took myself to Hawaii!

amiboverd · 17/09/2023 20:58

I'm 40 next year too. Not sure whether to just go on a holiday with DH and DC or try to organise a family party or wider family holiday.

megletthesecond · 17/09/2023 21:01

Nothing. Working lone parent. Youngest was a non-sleeper.