Nostalgia isn't what it used to be, according to a new survey of British grandparents.
Most reckon things WEREN'T "better in their day" – with internet and cheap foreign travel among the new delopments that make life better today.
And although many still have niggles – mainly about PPI telemarketing calls, junk mail and manners – nearly six in 10 grandparents said their quality of life was of a higher standard than their parents'.
Cars, healthcare and television were also among the things considered to be superior now.
Richard Drew, CEO of retirement property specialists www.retirementmove.co.uk said: "The clocks might be turning back this weekend, but today's grandparents don’t seem to want to turn back time.
"In fact, the results suggest there’s never been a greater time to be retired. They also show the perception older people think everything used to be better isn’t true.
"Retirement may have been approached with a little trepidation in the past, but now it's rightfully something to look forward to thanks in part to advances in technology, healthcare and more."
The study found nearly eight in 10 grandparents say the internet has improved life thanks to online shopping, offering new ways of communicating and online banking.
It's not just shopping online that's had a positive impact – shops are better now too according to three in five grandmas and grandads.
Opinion on movies was split with a third of those polled saying flicks are of a higher standard now while slightly less than a third think they are worse now.
Culinary tastes have come a long way in recent years according to grandparents with nearly three quarters saying food is tastier today.
However, just over half of respondents were not too keen on the latest music, believing it is worse nowadays.
TV on the other hand is better now apparently with more than 50 per cent of grandparents saying telly has improved. It's a similar story for the wireless with just under 50 half preferring today's radio.
Classic cars are very much a thing of the past it would seem, with nearly nine in 10 respondents preferring the modern motor.
When it comes to fashion it seems grandparents have seen it all before with over third saying it's "about the same."
Almost half of grandmas and grandads said life is better now compared to when they were in their twenties.
However, that didn't stop grandparents having gripes about manners, traffic and driving etiquette – all of which they said are below par.
In fact, grandparents said the words "stressful" and "selfish" best describe life today – although third on the list was "optimistic".
Seven in 10 people said crime is worse currently, while over half think Great Britain isn't what it once was.
Similarly football has scored an own goal as far as grandparents are concerned with forty per cent believing it isn't as good as it used to be.
Perhaps because of Andy Murray's success in recent years, tennis aced it - over a third of those polled said it is better nowadays.
While around a third of respondents said the standard of British cricket and rugby hasn't changed.
Richard Drew CEO of www.retirementmove.co.uk said: "We know from the many people talking to us about their retirement that they're very much looking forward to the future.
"The survey findings certainly suggest there is much to be excited about - modern living is helping retired people to live better, more fulfilled and active lifestyles.
"Through our friendly locally based teams, we want to help our customers enjoy their retirement which is why we pride ourselves on offering a great moving experience."
Grandparents' benefits of modern life - top 10
- Email - 86.42 per cent
- Digital cameras - 80.83 per cent
- Internet - 77.50 per cent
- Google - 72.92 per cent
- Cheap foreign travel - 70.08 per cent
- High definition television - 69.00 per cent
- DVD and Blu-Ray - 67.58 per cent
- Remote controls - 66.83 per cent
- Satnavs (and other GPS systems) - 65.17 per cent
- TV on demand (Netflix, BBC iPlayer, SkyGo, Amazon etc) - 62.83 per cent
Grandparents’ things that are better now - top 10
- Computing - 90.08 per cent
- Cars - 85.92 per cent
- Food - 72.08 per cent
- Shops and shopping - 59.42 per cent
- Healthcare - 57.17 per cent
- Quality of life - 53.08 per cent
- Television - 52.67 per cent
- Radio - 46.17 per cent
- Transport - 45.58 per cent
- Banking - 40.33 per cent
Grandparents’ things that are worse now - top 10
- Manners - 85.00 per cent
- Crime - 70.83 per cent
- Great Britain overall - 54.83 per cent
- Community life - 53.33 per cent
- Music - 50.83 per cent
- Football - 40.50 per cent
- Banking - 36.50 per cent
- Transport - 35.92 per cent
- Weather - 35.33 per cent
- Movies - 30.33 per cent
