Some times those living away forget how much Britian has changed over the last 50 years.
The country you come back to, to live, as distinct from just visiting is yet a nother country.
I have been thinking about this a lot recently. For over 30 years we have had a holiday home in Normandy. Quite close to the UK and we have travelled between the two countries, may be 10 times a year for all that time.
Now, with age and infirmity growing, we have sold it and we have been reminiscing about how much France has changed in the 30 plus years we have commuted between the two countries.
Anyone French who had gone to live abroad 30 years ago and came home now to retire, would find the France of their youth was no more. Everyone shops in supermarkets. There are still butchers and bakers in small towns, but only one of each - rarely at village level, all those corner bars have gone, and the restaurants that just offered one 'plat du jour' and had 4 tables. Supermarkets and some other shops are open all day. We have a weekly rubbish collection, the French are far more law abiding, fewer deals 'under the table' and less casual ignoring of health and safety laws. and this is just a sample list of changes.
It is the same for every one, leaving their home country and returning after occasional short visits before retiring 'home'.
The past is another country.