40th birthday - how did you celebrate?

[birdysong]

About to turn 40 and no plans on what to do. Wondered what others did- particularly introverts who didn't want a party - DH had a massive party for his last year but it's really not for me. I would have the attention.
How have others celebrated their 40th?

Posted on AIBU for traffic 🥳

Mine was on the first day of one of the six million extra COVID lockdowns. I hate parties but I'd have liked to go to a restaurant. Luckily I have friends who cook well and thought Nicola sturgeon was a moron.

Also not interested in a party or big night out. Had a lovely meal with another couple 🙂

Hi had a a meal out with my family who live far away had a lovely cake etc , then another with dh family and my dh took my on a surprise trip to New York really enjoyed it

I had an afternoon tea party for close family and friends.My sister organised it at her house. I did the same for her the following year. We celebrated in New York half way between our birthdays. My husband looked after our children as the youngest was only 3.

Lockdown.

DH gave me an at home pedicure/foot scrub.

Got a takeaway.

Childhood friend and I went to NYC between our bdays. We are planning for 50 now later this year. On the day just went shopping and family meal.

Went to Rome with DH.

I'm 49 this yr and I'll be going on holiday. Then maybe a family dinner with my extended family

Mine was a couple of weeks into the first COVID lockdown when we weren't allowed to do anything and everything was shut. 🙄

However, the weather was glorious so we sat in the garden drinking champagne and trying to make the best of it!

I had a lunch at a fancy restaurant in London with my closest girlfriends, then the next day I hired out the pub garden of my local and had a big barbecue lunch with face painting for the kids. It was so fun! I paid for it all. Will do again for my 50th if funds permit.

I didn’t really do much, just went out to dinner. I worked with a popular person who turned 40 the day before ne, she had a big party which I was invited to, simply because she found out about mine the day after. I wasn’t part of her regular group but as the party was big I didn’t think it’d look weird if I went. I had a lovely evening, a few people mentioned my birthday and bought me drinks too. I’m sociable, so I enjoyed myself, I just didn’t want my own party. If that hasn’t happened I’d have still been happy with my choices. For my 50th the family went to New York, well we went the same year I turned 50, so I counted it as my 50th. I’m 60 next year, dear god!! I’ll not do much then either.

I would normally have done a party but we were getting married 2 months later, having a hen do (just a meal and drinks but some people travelled for it) the month in between, so felt like I was maxed out on parties.

On the day itself I took the day off work and went for a lovely breakfast with my sisters, and then took myself to get my nails done. DH took the afternoon off and we met in the nearest city centre to shop for my gift from him (it was agreed we'd do it this way as I wanted something that I wanted to choose in person) and go for a lovely meal.

The following weekend I had drinks and lunch at a lovely restaurant with friends and family.

A birthday party for my 40th would have been my worst nightmare.

I had a break in London for mine. Stayed in a West End hotel, had dinner in a v. famous Michelin star restaurant, went to see a play and explored a couple of museums and galleries I'd been wanting to go to for ages. Just me and DP - it was absolutely lovely.

We do usually go away for a long weekend for my birthday anyway, but we made it a slightly elevated one.

Went to NY just the two of us. Stayed at the Waldorf Astoria

Gosh, for my 40th celebrations I was busy packing up all my stuff from the marital home, that was one to remember!

Was in the height of covid. Got pissed and ate cake.

Would have probably gone away in normal times but obviously didn't.

A meal out with about 10/12 close friends.

I’ve booked a city break for me and DH for DH 40th. Our first time away together since we had kids!

We went for lunch at a Michelin starred restaurant with 2 friends.

for my 50th, we went to krakow.

Booked myself and the dogs a getaway in Wales in a gorgeous luxury barn conversion with a mini garden spa out back! It was blissful. If I'd been with my current partner then, I would have included him too :)

There was no way I wanted a party. I went away for a few days with family.
I hope you have a great birthday, whatever you decide to do @birdysong 🥳

My fiancé took me for a surprise weekend to Le Manoir aux Quat’Saison- it was stupendous and must have cost £££ because we had a suite spanning two floors! He also gave me my first mobile phone (a blue Nokia - that’ll age me)! He was the most wonderful and generous man, sadly died unexpectedly seven years after we married.

I didn't want a party. I was outvoted.

Mines is in a couple of months and I am heading off on holiday to lie on a beach for a fortnight