Tips and stories on celebrating your birthday, from Confidence 4 U Readers.

My best ever birthday party
by Annette Rogers.

My daughter, Yvette, asked if I would like a 51st birthday party. I said, "yes please, I want a one year old party to celebrate the first year of my next 50 years. Everyone came dressed as 1 year olds; nighties to nappies, dummies to bonnets and baby bottles were the costumes and accessories. The music of the 1950s, including my favourite child hood song, "How much is that Doggy in the window?" The food: all kids stuff, - fairy bread, chocolate crackles, little boys, ice cream, frog in the pond. Yvette and her friend Candice were the mums looking after all us kids. The drinks were champagne cocktails and plenty of them. We played pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey, and musical chairs.

Presents: I received 3 teddy bears, the first ones I have ever owned in my life. I now have a Daddy Bear, Mummy bear and Baby bear, pure white soft bears, what a thrill, I felt like a real kid.

The Birthday cake was a large chocolate one, with 1 sparkler burning brightly on the top. Everyone waved their sparkler and sang Happy Birthday and I sat there grinning like a Cheshire cat lapping up the attention.

Unknown to me at the time, Yvette and Candice both thought that as we were all "oldies" that we would be gone by 11.30 and they would go out night clubbing. Wrong! She kicked us out at 3.15am, they were exhausted. They had worked hard, and been wonderful mums. We all had a ball, best party ever; we had all really let our hair down.

As we left Yvette gave us all a lolly basket, filled with freckles, jubes, jelly beans, penny sticks etc. just like when we were kids, plus 2 panadol. A wonderful party, with wonderful friends, given by an extremely wonderful daughter.

by Sheryl Meldrum

I will be turning the BIG 30 on the 24th of October this year and was not looking forward to it. However, in the past 3 months I have lost my Grandmother to Breast Cancer and my Nanna to adult onset Cystic Fibrosis and then to cap things off, my step-father had two heart attacks & three strokes within the span of 24 hours, (yes, he's still alive & kicking).

Having had such an horrific 3 months made me realise just how precious celebrating a birthday can be. I am no longer afraid of turning the BIG 30, rather I will cherish every moment and I am really looking forward to it. I have planned for activities to take place over FOUR DAYS.

My husband has organised for one of my life long wishes to come true.... I am going Hot Air Ballooning, followed by a champagne breakfast... then it's dinner for two at a cosy restaurant (my husband won the dinner from a Radio Show), then it's off to Daylesford's Hepburn Springs (another wish come true) for luxurious pampering and then to finish off the festivities, a picnic at Lavender Farm where they're holding an Italian Festival. My husband & friends will be performing as well.

I really couldn't ask for a better birthday. (I am alive!)

by Judith Canning Shoot

I turned 50 the last day of Jan. 2000 and knew I wanted to make it special. Travelling is my passion and since my husband does not enjoy it and for the past 20 years my friends were busy with their children I have often travelled alone. I have been to Europe many times and have a deep love of Scotland but had never made it to Australia or New Zealand so I combined the known favorites with new places and experiences on a trip around the world!

I flew from Kansas City to Toronto to Glasgow. Spent time on the west coast of Scotland, took a sleeper to London (first time to travel in the little cabin with the pull down bed!) after several days there I took the Chunnel (for the first time) to Paris, spent several days there before flying to never-visited places like Bangkok, Sydney and the North and South Islands of New Zealand.

The morning of my 50th, the last day of my trip, I sat on a little patio and had coffee looking at plants and a bird I had never seen. Of course, it was a beautiful summer morning and I had only ever had a winter birthday! I was thrilled.

When the get-on, get-off bus picked me up, the driver informed me it was a holiday! It was Auckland Day! I HAD to tell him it was a special day for me too! I spent the day visiting museums and sitting in a gorgeous botanical garden. I treated myself to a special dinner of ostrich and chocolate crepes before heading to the airport. My plane took off at five minutes after midnight and a few minutes later we crossed the dateline and it was Jan. 31 again!

I celebrated my birthday for two days! I had a perfect trip that lasted 24 days and was able to book the flight segments with a company who specializes in such trips and it didn't cost much more than two trips to Scotland.

When friends asked it I minded turning 50 I can honestly say that it was a terrific day! It was a celebration for one but I am an Introvert (INFJ) so you know that is just fine! I am so pleased to have been around the world and making a perfect trip for myself. I hiked hills and city streets, walked across the Sydney Bridge and back, packed for country and city and summer and winter in my trusty carry on backpack. I have had several trips since then, but that one will always be special.

for my 45th birthday, I invited 45 women to join me for cake and coffee on a Friday afternoon after work at a local restaurant. For 'entertainment', I asked each woman to tell the group how it was that she knew me...what a barrel of laughs that was! The women began to realise that they did know others in other segments of our community and they were all amazed at the variety of people I knew and some told some very funny stories about how we met. Good time was had by all, we went home a couple of hours later and no one had to miss out on their usual Friday night 'whatever' for some long winded party where everyone ate 3 times more than any sane adult should!

For my 50th birthday, men and women were invited to a port and dessert night and my husband (naughty boy!) asked everyone to make up a story, song, or poem on the spot using the letters of my first name. There were some amazing entries but mostly they were reflections of how much people appreciate me so I was feeling particularly valued that night.

For my 55th birthday, I ordered take away chicken for everyone, a small group gathered at a local winery (I know the owners very well) and we all had a great time just talking and laughing until our cheeks hurt...we threw away the containers (no washing up for me!) tidied up the cellar door and went home at a respectable hour.

Watch this space to see what madcap antics are in store for #60!!!

Ask the birthday party invitees to prepare a little acknowledgement of some quality that they appreciate about the birthday celebrator. Arrange a ceremony where they have the opportunity to take turns telling the birthday person what they really love about him/her. Perhaps each person could place a stone or a flower in a basket, as they say their piece. Or perhaps a little blessing card could be tied onto a tree that is being planted to mark the occasion (this is also good for naming ceremonies). Invitees could bring blessings for the future, or acknowledgements/thanks for the past.

I did this for my husband's 50th birthday, and my son's naming ceremony. It was very moving for all concerned.

by Peta Ritchie

My recent birthday was my 31st, but that didn't sound right, so I invited everyone to the 1st anniversary of my 21st birthday. I got 21st cards with the 2 crossed out and replaced with a 3 and a key shaped cake.

It was a hoot - it almost made me feel 21 again (the emphasis there being on almost)

Thanks to all the above Confidence 4 U readers.

Further information

Midlife and Happiness

Read of the woman who took up ballet in her 40's, of the woman who sailed the world in her own yacht at 59, of the 48 year old man who became a dad, of the 59 year old who represented Wales in the Orienteering championships ...

If you get inspired by reading other people's stories then this book, “Midlife and Happiness: How to be happy, overcome obstacles and follow your dreams over 40” is here to inspire you.

Only $34.95, with no extra for postage, world-wide.

Order now!

Be proud of your achievements whatever your age.
Best Wishes,
Rachel Green
PO Box 344, KelMscott, Western Australia 6991.
Phone: +61 8 9390 1188. Fax +61 8 9390 1199
E-mail: