To ask how you celebrated (or plan to celebrate) your 40th?

[JustSpeakSense]

I have always thought I'd love a big party (village hall, live band, balloons, buffet, bar and a big crowd) but I'm beginning to wonder if that's such a good idea.

I recently planned to meet a few (well, I invited about 25) friends in the pub for a few drinks on a Friday. One by one they cancelled and it was just me and one other (billy no mates springs to mind!)

I feel really hurt and am having second thoughts about throwing a big 40th and spending lots of money & effort entertaining 'friends' who obviously can't really be arsed.

I'm wondering if I should just suggest a nice weekend away with my family (maybe a European City break) instead.

How did you (or how do you plan to) celebrate your 40th?

FunkyBoldRibena Sat 08-Nov-14 10:58:59

Gosh that sounds wonderful

I completely stretched mine out, two weeks in Cuba in the summer as my present from my OH and DD, then a few weeks before the celebrations started with all the able bodied members of the family going paintballing, followed by two nights away with my closest friends in a spa hotel. Next came the night away with my Sisters and Mum. Numerous meals with work and family and to finish off my OH took me to see Deacon Blue. The whole of the celebrations were amazing even the paintballing which one year on I still have a couple of the bruises!

This year will be much quieter ;)

I did a charity bike ride. When I got back, my friends had organised a barbecue in my back garden and brought loads of food and drink. It was lovely and I raised over £500 for the NSPCC .

I'm organising my 50th now. I think I'm going to have a party with a great local band playing. I'll still do a charity thing though, because I can request donations instead of presents. I'm fancying a sprint (mini) triathlon.

Like MsAsprey said, one of my friends turned 40 last year and did one thing per month for the year, which I think is great.

I'm 40 next year - DH did try to book Rugby World Cup tickets for the actual weekend but (thankfully) failed. I'm going to do family stuff on the actual weekend - with DD and DH on the Saturday (not sure what yet) and DD and my parents on the Sunday - probably trip and Sunday dinner on local steam railway which I've fancied for ages (DH & DP's don't get on and he has commitments on Sunday's anyway).

The following weekend I'm having a house party for about 45 people - no idea where I'm going to put them all !

I had planned on having a party for friends and family but it all seemed too stressful. I suffer from anxiety and the idea of having family, friends with DC and husbands, friends who are single and/or childless all at a party together and providing suitable food and entertainment filled me with dread.

I had a tea party for about 14 female friends at a ye olde style tea shop that allowed BYO. We had a lovely couple of hours in our own room with cucumber sandwiches, cakes and cream tea washed down with jugs of Pimms and fizz. We then went on for cocktails and ended up at a pub where I danced like my 18 year old self to grungy indie music.

My parents had a family gathering at their place the next day for the family bit of the celebration.

I also had a city break with 3 friends, a very rare child free escape for all of us.

All very lovely and stress free.

Picnic on a mountain with my family in the morning, then Go Ape in the afternoon with 5 close girl friends. Then take away curry in the evening.
It was the best birthday ever!

Not 40- but was 30 this year. I had just found out I was pregnant a few days before and it was quite difficult not drinking and not telling my friends the real reason why especially as i'm really an alcoholic (was only 8 weeks at the time and wanted to wait until the 12 week mark)

Had a night out with friends, meal with the 2 girls I work with, posh dinner with DH, family dinner at ours and a party at home- 80s movie theme.

I had a party at my house for 11 women friends. We played silly games (organised by one of the guests) and had Chinese takeaway. I really enjoyed it, but for my 50th and 60th I just went for a meal with close family.

I went to Wagamama for lunch with DH and DD. Had a day off work too.

We had a night at the Ritz, Paris (went over on Eurostar).

I had a four day old newborn.

The day went by in a haze of pain (botched c section) and crying (from both of us ha)

Worst of all, no one remembered it was my birthday, never mind my 40th. I got 4 cards in total, and no presents.

I really could have killed every single 'friend' who said, wow, you got the best present of all, a baby. It really wasn't the glam party I envisaged (and the rest of my friends got lol) but then, 6 months on, I really did get a baby and I'm happy as larry! ;)

I stopped smoking and quit my job and went to University to start my dream job all within a month of being 40 in August !
It was the kick up the arse I needed to start to be the me I've always wanted. Life definitely begins.
I am so chuffed with myself.

I was single and 6 months pregnant with DD, throwing up from heartburn, so didn't do much!

DH treated me to a long weekend in an european city. Not a party person.

Am getting to close to the big 5 0 and to be honest just want a quiet meal. My twin sister wants a joint party but she is not understanding that a joint party is not workable as we live 2 hours apart.

Cue me looking a miserable bitch in her eyes

I'm 40 next Christmas and DP the year after. No-one wants to come to a birthday party so near to Christmas so we kind of want a joint party in the summer. But... I have been a bit wishful and would love a big party where me and DP finally get married but without the guests knowing beforehand. With just under 2 years to plan and prepare and save for it I'm not sure it will happen. We might just take the girls to DLP instead. I would hate a party where people can't make the effort to turn up

Went out with a friend the day before, had a nice lunch, met up with some other friends for a few drinks, then some live comedy with dp. Actual birthday went out for a very nice meal meal with dp where he proposed, then spent the night in my favourite hotel. Next day, travelled back to London for surprise get together at a friends' house and got properly wasted.

Also managed to conceive our first child.

Best birthday ever!

Actually Shockers, I like the idea of doing a charity bike ride for 1 or 2 nominated charities. Will need a few days recovery from being saddle-sore though

Treat yourself to some padded cycling shorts instead of a new birthday outfit!

Seriously though, I used to laugh a bit at folk who had all the gear. Now my padded cycling pants and gloves are my favourite garments .

Well, I had my 40th birthday bash just last night! We had a fabulous time with about 90 people at a local hotel/club - lots of friends and family, and as I hadn't had a bash since my 18th, I really enjoyed the planning and organising even though it was hard work!

I think that the best bit was the fireworks!! Having my birthday so close to November 5th I have always associated my birthday with fireworks and it was a great opportunity to splurge a bit with professional fireworks!!

Mine's in 2 years and I flip flop about it a lot. I'd quite like to have an afternoon tea party in the garden, but I don't know if we could make it look nice enough, plus I don't really have many friends. I suspect we'll actually do nothing.

Just turned 40 this year.

Hired a house in country with a group of my oldest, best friends - we're all very close, and have known each other for years (decades even, some of us) but now very rarely get to spend proper time together - it was just wonderful. Brilliant. I love them all.

Then, had a silent disco in my village local, which was hilarious.

Then, DH took me out to dinner.

Lovely birthday.

It's DH's 40th next month and I've booked a surprise long weekend in a lodge in the Cairngorms. Not a romantic break as the DC are too small to leave behind but there is a hot tub on the deck so I'll do my best

I would have liked a huge party....if someone else had done the organising . Seeing as there were no volunteers, DP and I left DS with my parents and went to Morocco for a week.

My 40th was a little sad as I had failed to have our third child and had miscarried a baby. Had him when I was 41 though, so will enjoy my 50th a lot more with a complete family . I'd like to go away somewhere with my DH and children, then see my parents on a different date and various nights out with friends. There is talk of some friends going away for a week-end also as we all turn 50 next year.

I had just split up from my DP so my closest friends organised a night out for me as I wasn't planning to do anything, so I always have that nice memory to mark the occasion for which I am grateful.