One of the first couples we met there full time were a fireman and his wife who retired from the UK - they had a lovely apartment and a few meals out and told me that after one year of living there (that day) they had enjoyed a pleasant standard of living and had a modest amount more in the bank than the day they arrived a year ago. That was retirement and interest rates (and Efes prices
) and that is pretty difficult to achieve now.
People who needed to live odd their interest are quite often back in the UK or thinking about it.
A bottle of local votka was around £4 ten years ago, how much now - £16? If the same increase happens over the next 10 years it will be £64 a bottle!!
Change votka for red meat, or gas bottles, or electricity - same story.
High interest returns and low prices are gone. People are going.
I believe we lived there for the best years for Brits over there, and if that upsets anyone, tough!
Good luck to the lovely Mark, a true gent.