What did you do for your 40th birthday?

[NotmySundaybest]

Mine is upcoming & I'm looking for inspiration to plant ideas with DH!

I should have been going on a fab holiday to Zanzibar however, it was the start of lockdown 2, no holiday, Covid (quite poorly) so spent at home, ill whilst trying to homeschool. Not fun.

Wow holiday? Weekend away doing something fun?

My birthday fell on a Sunday and I had extended family round for tea on the day itself which was lovely.

Then on the next Saturday I had a house party themed around 40 years of music (I called it 'Video Killed the Radio Star') and did a playlist with a song for every year of my life, borrowed a screen projector and had all the videos for them projected on a wall. Just got a lot of pizza and Indian/Chinese platters for Iceland and kept them coming out of the oven for most of the evening. Started party fairly early for those with younger kids and babysitters (or who were bringing kids with), but in the end the late crew meant it went on until about 2am. It was a great night!

Trip away. Child free in a nice hotel.

I had a weekend away with the hubby and kids.
Then a girls trip to Barcelona - which was amazing.

I had a house party. I invited friends, colleagues, neighbours school parents and their kids, made food, provided drinks and had a blast. Lots of friends had primary aged kids so I made it an afternoon family-friendly party rather than an evening do.

Took myself to Hawaii

Had a child free weekend, ended up in Nuremberg. A bit random perhaps but both dh and I love Germany and are history buffs. It was lovely!

Just had mine and DH’s family round for a BBQ. Was a lovely day!

Pre children this was much easier but I went to Glasto with my friends and it was amazing!

Covid 🤷🏻‍♀️

Pretended it wasn't happening 😆 me and my dh just went away for a city break in York for the weekend just so I could swerve any potential big family fanfare over a birthday I didn't want to celebrate.

I went away with my partner, friends and all our kids for a long weekend. We booked a chef to make lunches and dinners and went for nice walks in the day and got drunk at night. It was lovely.

Just babysat for my 40 yr old DC. They went away for a City Break and the organising partner organised a variety of events for the birthday.

I went to Barcelona for three nights with my exH. We stayed in a lovely hotel with an infinity pool, ate tapas and drank copious amounts of champagne!

Mine’s coming up and i’m not doing anything. Can’t be arsed!

He wasn't my exH then but he is now!

I went on a solo trip to Berlin.

It was in the middle of lockdown so we went to Las Vegas for my 42nd instead.

My big day was the day before a big family do for my DCs Holy Communion so that overshadowed things but also meant I got to dress up and see family, they don't live near so these occasions are rare and they probably wouldn't have all travelled just for a birthday. The next weekend I had room in a pub and it was 90s themed. Just drinks and a few nibbles and a lot of dancing around. I invited loads of people, old friends, new pals, work colleagues etc. A few weeks later DH and I had 2 nights away together in Edinburgh.

Told my husband I wanted a divorce lol!

Went on holiday to Majorca and was there for the actual day - went with my DH and DS

Well, nothing that will inspire you unfortunately! I was recovering from a hysterectomy so I didn't want to go out. Just at home with dh & dc, my aunt & uncle came over with a birthday cake, and and a present, and dh made us taco's. (My request).

I walked an alpaca 🦙

I had a lovely girls' afternoon with my DH serving drinks and someone came in to do mini pamper treats (manicure/shoulder massage etc). In the evening, the male folks were invited and we went to a Sri Lankan restaurant. Was a lot of fun.
DH's fortieth, I organised a surprise party in his home country and then - in a moment of charity auction madness - we had a wonderful day in the Solent on a yacht/speed boat thingamabob with some friends. It was awesome, decadent and likely never to be repeated unless I win the lottery!

Had Covid