Going to be 40 very soon. Have not had a moment to plan anything. Anyone had a fantastic 40th and what did you do?

[HonoriaGlossop]

Any ideas appreciated. I have been bloody busy and DH is allergic to planning. What can I dooooooooooooo?

Mine was fairly rank but yours will be fab. Someone else will come along soon, I'll wager ....

When is it?

In a week! Oh dear, sorry yours was rank. Tis the way mine will be unless I get organised pretty soon!

really enjoyed mine

local bar (walking distance) reserved area, arranged canapes, put money behind bar for drinks and had a barman look after us all night bringing bottles of prosseco and ensuring preggers people got juice

no preparing
no tidying up
just enjoying
can recommend

Hmmmm-ever thought about delaying celebrations?
I organised a trip for 13 female friends of DP to go to Barcelona for a weekend-sounds a bit crass but we had a fab time.

hmm, that sounds lovely Twig. I am just slightly concerned that having left it so late no-one I invite will come and I will look like billy-no-mates.

We do have a lovely pub with beautiful garden in staggering distance.....

Fark, lovely as that sounds unfortunately finances will not stretch to that sort of thing

My birthday is in August.
Barbecue for friends and neighbours on the green outside our house from 4pm for those with children, they all brought food and drink and helped tidy up after too!
Also had 2 nights with DH in the St. David's Hotel in Cardiff which was nice, and a picnic for one side of the family at an NT place and a meal in a restaurant for the other side (they don't get on).
Lasted about a week

Well have to say,the birthday was in Feb so we got a dirt cheap deal....

If you are worried that people couldn't come at such short notice-how about a night away with DH somewhere?

barbie sounds lovely brandnew....

F, that's a thought about a night away. I have to admit that DH and I haven't had a night away together since ds was born five years ago! I feel it may be time!

HG, for dh's 30th I took him to 5 star London hotel, booked their private cinema, gave him 30 dvds as a birthday present with a slot in the private cinema to screen one of them. Plus Champagne, canapes etc, we were there for 2 nights, it was fab.

For my 40th dh booked a swish holiday cottage in Cornwall, arranged a babysitter and secretly booked my 2 sisters, their husbands and my cousin and his wife to meet us for dinner in a lovely restaurant overlooking the river at Fowey. Plus I had some great presents, a week with him and the children and what I really, really wanted, a magnolia tree. And I got a magnolia tree because Sobernow saw me post that I really really wanted one and emailed my dh to tell him! How lovely is that?

What's your perfect day? What's your budget?

www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=2401&threadid=195150#4002553old thread on 40ths here