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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how marked/celebrated significant birthdays?

31 replies

Frizzcat · 16/08/2015 13:17

I have a significant birthday coming up this year, I normally don't do very much for my birthdays. This year is a milestone and I've decided to do something and that's the problem, my mind has gone bloody blank.Hmm

So MN what did you do to mark a significant birthday?

OP posts:
Original poster
Frizzcat · 16/08/2015 13:19

Oh Ffs - To ask how you marked/celebrated significant birthdays?

OP posts:
IvanOsokin · 16/08/2015 13:21

I/we go away! As far away as is affordable at the time, which has varied from significant birthday to significant birthday. I love it as I hate the pressure to do something for a milestone birthday and I really enjoy going away, which we don't get to do often.

pasturesgreen · 16/08/2015 13:37

I usually go away on a city break and book a nice evening out at the theatre on the actual birthday. I have social anxiety, so cannot abide all the usual fuss that comes with birthdays: meal out, drinks, loud partying...

Also, some years ago I started a sort of tradition whereby on birthdays ending in 0 and 5 I'll splurge on an expensive, durable treat (think jewellery or a posh accessory).

MrsTerryPratchett · 16/08/2015 15:21

My Mum decided for her 70th that she wanted to be under a banyan tree in Yunnan. I like that idea!

MamaLazarou · 16/08/2015 15:23

I'm 40 in a fortnight and m completely skint so won't be doing a thing! Sad

WorraLiberty · 16/08/2015 15:24

Went to the Harvester for DH's 40th

Went to the Harvester for my 40th

The most rebellious thing we did, was dodge the salad cart Grin

FarFromAnyRoad · 16/08/2015 15:26

The spirit of travel and adventure is strong with Worra Grin Grin

Did you buck convention and have the garlic mushrooms instead of the herbed ones?

elQuintoConyo · 16/08/2015 15:30

My 18th = Harvester

30th = Venice, ultra-cheap (think Ryanair flights, hotel in Mestre - over the bridge). Had a great 48hour weekend Grin

40th = tea and cakes in my garden (couple of months ago).

I'd like to do something for my 50th, trip back to the US or something. Will probably end up with tea and cakes with friends in the garden again!

StampyMum · 16/08/2015 15:31

For my 40th, we had an all day/evening party at home, afternoon tea merging into BBQ, with Pimms then champagne later. Then we rented a fabuloso house in St Ives for a week and took the family and friends with us. It was probably a bit much, in retrospect.

For DH's 50th, we went to York for the day, spent most of it in the railway museum Grin

Original poster
Frizzcat · 16/08/2015 17:08

I'm definitely not doing a party as I'll be so worried it's rubbish that I'll be constantly making sure everyone else is having a great time.

I'm thinking I'd like to do something nice on the day and go away minus my children. I love them but I need a break.

OP posts:
Original poster
Frizzcat · 16/08/2015 17:08

Oh and I love a Harvester Worra

OP posts:
cathcustard · 16/08/2015 17:10

Weekend away with DH & no DC.
It was like the early days but with more sleep Blush

fourtothedozen · 16/08/2015 17:19

Nothing.
I detest birthdays. Especially my own.

Birthdays celebrations are lovely for kids.
Unseemly for adults.

PrettyObvious · 16/08/2015 17:31

40th, dinner party for 14 at a restaurant, where I knew the people who ran it. That was really good fun as my parents came over from the UK. We had a great evening.
50th the young man insisted on taking me out to dinner. This was not so good, food fine, location great (I chose), but I had driven over from one side of Europe and he had driven up from the south and had to go back again for the next morning. Also I wasn't allowed any wine with my meal :-(
60th, I have a few years to think about.

Sighing · 16/08/2015 17:32

Orient Express on his 40th for my train oriented husband. No plans for my 40th as yet. But a meal at a very nice restaurant we save for big occasions seems likely.
I am also pondering hiring a cansl boat for a weekend.

NoahVale · 16/08/2015 17:39

We are going to a show in London, with a meal. but tempted to do something else, but lack of passports, in date, makes it difficult and expensive.
for my 40th we went to Portugal, family holiday.
zilch for my 30th

esiotrot2015 · 16/08/2015 17:40

18th - clubbing with school friends

21st - posh dinner with then boyfriend which my parents paid for

30th- nothing had newborn

40th - family picnic with about twenty present

Would love to go away for 50th

Kitella · 16/08/2015 17:42

I never celebrate my birthday because it's a bad time of year for me work wise. So having done nothing for years, I decided to splurge out for my 40th.

I took a small group of friends out for a local spa and then for an afternoon tea at a posh hotel.

On my birthday I had a nice meal out with my husband.

I've just had a weekend away in London with my family (parents and children). We saw a show, did the sights etc...

And I was going to have a BBQ, but that got postponed. So I'm doing that soon. Just a small party.

But that'll be the last time I do anything for my birthday until I turn 50 Grin.

TidyDancer · 16/08/2015 17:45

18th - meal in local Caffe Uno

21st - pub with friends the night before (most of my friends fucked off to a London club on my actual birthday and didn't invite me)

30th - nice lunch with family in pizza restaurant and takeaway in the evening (exactly what I wanted btw)

NoahVale · 16/08/2015 17:46

well if you are going as far back as 18th Grin
18th I cooked for some college friends.
for 21st went clubbing with friends.

Original poster
Frizzcat · 16/08/2015 18:09

See I've never really marked a significant birthday.
18th went out with friends
21st can't remember I think I worked
30th small children no babysitters or money
My 40th is the next one

OP posts:
Totality22 · 16/08/2015 20:21

18th = had my last a level exam
21st = had uni exams
30th = had a party that didn't turn out great..wish I'd had fucking exams instead.

Totality22 · 16/08/2015 20:23

For my 40th I'm going away. Fancy Iceland....

DurhamDurham · 16/08/2015 20:28

For my last significant birthday which was my 40th I went to New York. We couldn't all afford to go so I took my then 17 yr old daughter while my husband took our then 14 year old to Spain as she was happy with a sunshine and swimming holiday.

It's my husband's 50th next year so we've been saving up for us all to go to New York.

My youngest daughter was 18 in May and we had a big party for her at home and paid for her and her boyfriend to go to Amsterdam.

We aren't ones for big presents in our family but we all enjoy holidays and trips away.

Groovee · 16/08/2015 20:29

My 18th, I had an unwanted party the week before. My parents wanted a party not me. I went out on the eve of my birthday with a guy and we ended up a couple.

My 21st was 2 months after my wedding. Mum and dad had Chinese and we did a meal the following night for family.

My 30th, my mum, mil, SIL and 2 friends went to a spa for the weekend. Then on my birthday dh and I had lunch out, then dh organised a buffet for family to have at home that night.

My 40th is in the future and I plan to be in Las Vegas with dh for it.