There are two schools of thought when it comes to significant birthdays. One is to celebrate via a whacking big party with all your family and friends. The other is to get out of town. Pretend it isn't happening by going somewhere nobody knows you, preferably with a loved one or two in tow to stave off any sudden feelings of being all alone on the big day.

My birthday is on New Year's Eve so I was never going to do a party. Our house is too small, catering at that time of the year prohibitively expensive, traffic a closed-for-fireworks nightmare. And yes, I realise I must be old to be thinking like this. I had no problem co-opting the celebratory New Year's vibe when I was turning 18. Or 21. Or even 30.