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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for ideas of fun/bizarre/unusual things I could do before I turn 40!

56 replies

Gotabadfeelingaboutthis · 28/04/2024 09:34

As the title suggests, in order to celebrate approaching 40, I want to make sure I'm living and doing stuff rather than just plodding through life washing, cooking and working.
So please could you hit me with ideas of things I could include? I have some already, some are expensive, some time consuming, some free and easy. I want a whole mix!
An example of ideas so far are things like
Pottery wheel lesson
Learn BSL
Listen to the dawn chorus
Stay a night in a ludicrously posh hotel
Indoor skydiving
Watch a sunrise on a beach
Run a 5K for charity
Learn to crotchet.

But I would love to hear some more!

OP posts:
seagullsstealingmychips · 28/04/2024 09:42

Following. I want some ideas too before I hit a significant birthday.
Mine would be:
Snorkel in the Maldives/stay in a hut on stilts
Go to Dubai and stay in a posh hotel
Afternoon tea at the Ritz (hoping to do that this year)
Book a box at the theatre

The Maldives & Dubai ones will probably never happen as no one to go with (DH would never do either) and the cost.

Nannyogg134 · 28/04/2024 09:52

I don't really have an age-goal for these (though I'm reaching the age where I should probably set one 😅)

  • Watch a meteor shower
  • Learn enough French to confidently speak to shopkeepers in France (I don't think my stunted GCSE is going to cut it)
  • Do a zookeeper for a day experience (bonus points if I have to touch a spider because I hate them)
  • Go to a music festival
  • Start a fire (I don't mean illegally, but learn to make a campfire or cooking fire)
  • Catch, fillet and cook a fish (this can be combined with my previous one lol)
  • Find 1 recipe and get really good at it, so people can say "Oh NannyOgg is bringing X to the buffet, have you tried them they're really good!"
  • Reverse bay park in a car park without panicking also, become a confident motorway driver
cheddercherry · 28/04/2024 10:14

Oh exciting! Mine would be:

  • Swim with sharks
  • Learn to make a really good pudding
  • See a shooting star
  • Visit a new continent (for me I’ve never been to South America)
  • Visit a hibachi style restaurant
  • Make a piece of jewellery for myself
  • Go to a festival
  • Host a themed dinner night with friends
  • Do a zipline over the jungle
Gotabadfeelingaboutthis · 28/04/2024 11:05

Ooh I'm liking some of these 😄 here are a few more suggestions...

See the Northern lights
Learn to cartwheel 🤣
Find a real fossil
Break a world record
Try one of those gong sound bath things
Take a guitar exam
Try paddleboarding

OP posts:
Giggorata · 28/04/2024 11:14

I have done quite a few things mentioned on here, and I would add:

see a total solar eclipse
midwife or observe an animal giving birth
go on a long train trip somewhere abroad

Things I haven't yet done include:

go to the Crucible or the Ally Pally for snooker
see a volcano erupting (eg in Iceland)
see the midwinter sunrise in Newgrange

cranberrypi · 28/04/2024 11:16

how much time do you have to train? I'd say run a marathon

Leeds2 · 28/04/2024 11:17

Complete the Go Ape course.
Walk over the top of the O2 Arena.
Go posh glamping.
Go on a walk with llamas.
Start volunteering doing something you love.

Get tickets to a West End show, in one of the boxes.
Go to the New Year’s Eve fireworks display in Hyde Park.
Eat strawberries and cream at Wimbledon.
Start dance classes to learn salsa.
Read War and Peace.

Newnamesameoldlurker · 28/04/2024 11:18

Ayahuasca retreat

Vanillalime · 28/04/2024 11:33

Metal detect on a beach
Hold a snake
Create & perfect your signature dish
Learn Interstellar on the piano
Throw an axe
Chase a tornado
Run a marathon

SkeletonBatsflyatnight · 28/04/2024 12:13

I have a few years to go til my 50th. My list includes:

People watching in Paris
Drive the undersea tunnels linking the Faroes
Run a 10k
Go on a retreat of some description
Finish Middlemarch which I started in 1998 whilst studying for degree number 1.
Improve my Russian to the point I can read the books I inherited from my Grandfather
Visit all the Dante Gabriel Rosetti paintings on display in the UK

Also
Finish all my many craft projects

paintingvenice · 28/04/2024 12:15

My sister did a midnight walk up snowdon for charity and saw the sunrise from there which she says was very cool.

TheExclusiveSandwich · 28/04/2024 12:16

anal sex?

Herdingcatz · 28/04/2024 12:18

TheExclusiveSandwich · 28/04/2024 12:16

anal sex?

You class that as unusual? Bless.

TheExclusiveSandwich · 28/04/2024 12:18

Well, you choose your adjective from the original question 🙋🏻‍♀️

ODFOx · 28/04/2024 12:20

Sleep out in a bivvy and watch the sun come up.
Climb the 3 peaks
Couch to 5k
Visit a vineyard for a proper wine tasting lesson.
Learn a new craft ( felting or willow weaving etc).
Have some ballroom dancing lessons.

NuffSaidSam · 28/04/2024 12:21

TheExclusiveSandwich · 28/04/2024 12:18

Well, you choose your adjective from the original question 🙋🏻‍♀️

😂😂

GreenIcy · 28/04/2024 12:22

Learn a new language
Learn to juggle
Go on a silent retreat
Swim at midnight in the sea on a full moon
Ride a cross country course on horseback

PTSDBarbiegirl · 28/04/2024 12:24

Herdingcatz · 28/04/2024 12:18

You class that as unusual? Bless.

Not all it's cracked up to be. 😏

Riverlee · 28/04/2024 12:32

Go to John o Groats and Land End

Go open water swimming

go on a sailing course and learn to sail (or surf or wind surf etc)

Go to the National Gallery in London

Afternoon tea at The Ritz

Make a macrame plant pot holder

Host an Ann Summers party

ssd · 28/04/2024 12:33

You can still do stuff when you're over 40 too!!!

Xenoi24 · 28/04/2024 12:35

TheExclusiveSandwich · 28/04/2024 12:16

anal sex?

WTAF.

PTSDBarbiegirl · 28/04/2024 12:35

Learn to ride a horse..
Drive a super car on a race course..
Eat the freshest food of your preference in the location it was grown/reared..
Start being completely honest eg. stop people pleasing..
Buy something you class as a treat for yourself, jewellery, art, clothing..
Write a letter to someone who hurt you and say exactly the harm it did, say whatever you want & burn it..

CJ0374 · 28/04/2024 12:37

-Taxidermy class https://afieldguide.org/workshops.html
-Experience day like gliding, zorbing or flying lesson
-Christmas wreath making class
-Volunteer at a soup kitchen/charity shop/foodbank
-Make your own earrings/pendant lesson
-Duolingo
-Basic car mechanic course (change oil, filters etc)
-Walk through 1 of the many forest cemeteries https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Hamlets_Cemetery_Park
-Foraging course

A Field guide - Taxidermy Workshops in London

https://afieldguide.org/workshops.html

curiouscat1987 · 28/04/2024 12:38

Go zorbing
Visit a nudist beach and join in
See dolphins and whales in their natural environment, either from boat or the water!

Eyesopenwideawake · 28/04/2024 12:39

I did indoor skydiving for my 60th - it's brilliant fun!! Not sure why I got the Superman costume though...😂

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