10 Secrets of Happy Women

1. Spread your happy thoughts

Let your daughter know how great it feels to spend the day shopping with her. Brag to your spouse about the unexpected compliment your boss paid you.

E-mail your best friend to tell her how fondly you remember the camping trip you took last year, and include a hilarious picture of your attempt to pitch a tent. Sharing happy memories and experiences with others—or even simply anticipating doing so—is one of the most powerful and effective ways to prolong and magnify joy, Bryant's research shows. "It helps sustain emotions that would otherwise fade," he says. Affirming connections with others, he adds, is "the glue that holds people together."

2. Build memories you can savor

Take mental snapshots of memorable moments that you can draw on later.

Recall vivid, specific events, and pinpoint what brought you joy. Do you love your red wool scarf because it's chic and cozy, or because its smell reminds you of your childhood romps in the snow? Interjecting mystery into happy moments—reflecting on what's surprising or hard to understand about them, for example—can strengthen their power. Just be careful not to overanalyze and lose the wonder of the moment. What you want, says University of Virginia social psychologist Timothy D. Wilson, PhD, is to dissect your experiences just enough to appreciate how they've helped form you and then get back to simply living them.

3. Pat yourself on the back

Take pride in a hard-won accomplishment—it’s not something that many people do.

If you spent a year sweating at the gym to reach a fitness goal, bask in your new jeans size—and share your success with others. Self-congratulation doesn't come easily to everyone. "A lot of people have trouble basking in an accomplishment because they feel that they shouldn't toot their own horns or rest on their laurels," Bryant says. It's a fine line between joyous self-congratulation and shameless self-promotion, but don't worry: You'll know if you're crossing it.

4. Fine tune your senses

Here’s an easy trick to hone your tastebuds or follow your nose.

Close your eyes while you roll a square of dark chocolate over your tongue or fill your lungs with salty sea air or eavesdrop on your grandchildren's play and laughter. Shutting out some sensory stimuli while concentrating on others can heighten your enjoyment of positive experiences—particularly those that are short-lived.

5. Compare downward

Comparing upward makes us feel deprived, but comparing downward can heighten enjoyment.

Think about how things could be worse—or how things used to be worse. Keep it light—you don't have to relive a scary health diagnosis or revel in a neighbor's job loss. Simply take note: Is today sunnier than the weather report predicted? Did you finish off that work project more quickly than you thought you would?

6. Get absorbed

Some joyful moments seem to call for conscious reflection and dissection.

At other times, we savor best when we simply immerse ourselves in the present moment, without deliberate analysis or judgment. Listen to your favorite music with headphones in a dark room. Lose yourself in a novel you just can’t put down. Set aside enough time on the weekend for your favorite hobby so you can attain a level of absorption known as the "flow" state.

7. Fake it till you make it

Putting on a happy face—even if you don't feel like it—actually induces greater happiness, says Bryant.

So be exuberant. Don't just eat the best peach of the season; luxuriate in every lip-smacking mouthful. Laugh out loud at a funny movie. Smile at yourself when you pass by a mirror. After all, he says, "a surefire way to kill joy is to suppress it."

8. Seize meaningful moments

Some positive events come and go quickly—a surprise toast to your accomplishments at work, your daughter's sweet 16 party.

It seems obvious that the more quickly a positive experience evaporates, the more difficult it is to savor. Yet paradoxically, Bryant has found, reminding ourselves that time is fleeting and joy transitory prompts us to seize positive moments while they last.

9. Avoid glass-half-empty thinking

The world has enough pessimists.

Short circuit negative thoughts that can only dampen enjoyment, such as self recriminations or worries about others' perceptions. When you find yourself awash in happiness, give it space to grow—don't ruminate about why you don't deserve this good thing, what could go wrong, how things could be better. Consciously make the decision to embrace joy.

10. Say thanks more often

Cultivate an "attitude of gratitude," Bryant says.

Pinpoint what you're happy about—a party invitation from a new pal, a seat on a crowded subway—and acknowledge its source. It's not always necessary to outwardly express gratitude, Bryant notes, but saying "thank you" to a friend, a stranger, or the universe deepens our happiness by making us more aware of it.

From Prevention

Ten things the Philippines bus siege police got wrong

A security analyst who has worked in counter-terrorism with the British Army and Scotland Yard, Charles Shoebridge, says the officers involved in Manila's bus siege showed great courage - but they were not properly trained or equipped for the task.

Here are 10 areas where, in his view, they could have done better.

1. Determination

The first officers who tried to storm the bus were driven out by gunshots from the hostage taker, former policeman Rolando Mendoza. "They showed great courage to go on board. It's very crowded, just one aisle down the middle of the bus. But once you get on board it's not unexpected you are going to be fired at. Squads like this have to be made up of very special people, specially trained and selected for their characteristics of courage, determination and aggression. In this case they acted as 99% of the population would have, which was to turn round and get out. They didn't seem to have the necessary determination and aggression to follow the attack through."

2. Lack of equipment

The police spent a long time smashing the windows of the bus, whereas explosive charges (known as frame charges) would have knocked in windows and doors instantly. "They had no ladders to get through the windows. They smashed the windows but didn't know what to do next," Mr Shoebridge says. "They almost looked like a group of vandals." Their firearms were also inappropriate - some had pistols, some had assault rifles. Ideally they would have carried a short submachine gun, suitable for use in confined spaces.

3. Lost opportunity to disarm the gunman

There were numerous opportunities to restrain the gunman, Mr Shoebridge believes. "The negotiators were so close to him, and he had his weapon hanging down by his side. He could have been disabled without having to kill him."

4. Lost opportunity to shoot the gunman

The video of the drama also shows there were occasions when the gunman was standing alone, during the course of the day, and could have been shot by a sharpshooter. "You are dealing with an unpredictable and irrational individual. The rule should be that if in the course of negotiations an opportunity arises to end the situation decisively, it should be taken," Mr Shoebridge says. Either this possibility did not occur to the officers in charge, he adds, or they considered it and decided to carry on talking.

5. Satisfying the gunman's demands

"I wondered why the authorities just didn't give in to all of his demands," says Charles Shoebridge. "A promise extracted under force is not a promise that you are required to honour. Nobody wants to give in to the demands of terrorists, but in a situation like this, which did not involve a terrorist group, or release of prisoners, they could have just accepted his demands. He could be reinstated in the police - and then be immediately put in prison for life for hostage taking." The Philippines authorities did in fact give in to the gunman's demands, but too little, too late. One message promised to review his case, while he wanted it formally dismissed. A second message reinstating him as a police offer only arrived after the shooting had started.

6. Televised proceedings

The gunman was able to follow events on television, revealing to him everything that was going on around him. This was a "crucial defect in the police handling", Mr Shoebridge says. He adds that police should always consider putting a barrier or screen around the area, to shield the scene from the cameras and keep the hostage taker in the dark.

7. No element of surprise

It was clear to the gunman what the police were doing at all times, not only because the whole incident was televised, but also because they moved "laboriously slowly", Mr Shoebridge says. The police did not distract him, so were unable to exploit the "crucial element of surprise".

8. Safeguarding the public

At least one bystander was shot, possibly because the public was allowed too close. The bullet from an M16 rifle, as carried by the gunman, can travel for about a mile, so preventing any risk of injury would have been difficult, Mr Shoebridge says, but a lot more could have been done. "When you saw the camera view from above, it was clear there was little command and control of the public on the ground," he says.

9. Using the gunman's brother to negotiate

Relatives and close friends can be a double-edged sword, Mr Shoebridge says. While they may have leverage over the hostage taker, what they are saying cannot be easily controlled. In this case, the gunman's brother was included in the negotiations - however, at a certain stage he became agitated and police started to remove him from the scene. The gunman saw this on television, and became agitated himself. According to one report he fired a warning shot.

10. Insufficient training

In some parts of the Philippines, such as Mindanao, hostage taking is not an uncommon occurrence, so the country has some forces that are well trained in the necessary tactics. The detachment involved in Monday's incident clearly was not, says Mr Shoebridge. After smashing the windows, one of the officers eventually put some CS gas inside, though "to what effect was not clear" he says. A unit involved in this work, needs to be "trained again and again, repeatedly practising precisely this kind of scenario," he says.

From BBC News

Glamour’s top 20 Sexiest Men of 2010

Robert Pattinson has been named the world's sexiest man for the second year running, despite facing stiff competition from his 'Twilight' co-stars.

Robert Pattinson has been named the world's sexiest man.

The 'Twilight' hunk has topped Glamour's 50 Sexiest Men poll for the second year running, after fighting off stiff competition from other actors starring in vampire-based productions.

The top five was dominated by 'Twilight' actors, with 18-year-old Taylor Lautner - who plays Jacob Black, the werewolf love rival to Robert's character Edward Cullen in the hit film franchise -in second place, and Xavier Samuel and Kellan Lutz placed fourth and fifth respectively.

The hunky trio were rivalled by 'The Vampire Diaries' star Ian Somerhalder, who was voted third in the survey, proving that women can't get enough of men with fangs.

Glamour's acting editor Charlotte Duck said: 'Women are attracted to vampires because of the element of danger that comes with them. They are the ultimate bad boys - and women want to tame the beasts.

From MSN

Quicker.com is having a blog contest

Are these eye candy for you? Do you want to win these items?

1st price - Ladies Chronograph (bic face) watch
2nd price - Kate Spade kikay kit (orange)
3rd price - Kate Spade kikay kit (floral)

Faye is having a contest on her blog and is open to all international readers. Read more about the contest here.

The Contest Ends on the 8th of Sept 2010 so if you wish to participate you must enter before that date. Winners will be announced on Sept 18,2010! The winners will be picked through Random.org!

The mechanics of her contest is very simple. Here’s how:

1. Subscribe to her feed via email located right side bar (REQUIRED) - 1 Entry
2. Blog about the contest along with the Prizes {You MUST include the Prizes and My link}- 5 Entries
- If you have multiple blogs, much better. Each blog post along with the Prizes -5 Entries.
3. Leave a comment in this post telling Faye what you did and give the link of the blog post. 1 Entry.
4. Comment to any of her post. From August 8,2010 to Sept 8,2010 and you’ll have 1 entry each comment.
-Make it sure it’s at least three word ! LOL And NO SPAMMING, PLEASE!

The World’s Richest Self-Made Women

Only 14 of the world’s 1,011 billionaires are women who made their own money rather than inherited all or part of it. It is a small but impressive group that includes Oprah Winfrey, J.K. Rowling and California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman.

• Wu Yajun – $3.9 billion

Chief executive of real estate developer Longfor Properties; took it public on Hong Kong stock exchange 2008. As an engineer, worked at Qianwei Meter Factory for four years; spent next five working at the China Shirong News Agency. Shortly after, began developing real estate in her hometown of Chongqing. Now has properties in 10 cities.

• Rosalia Mera - $3.5 billion

Helped then husband Amancia Ortega make dressing gowns, lingerie in their home. It became one of world’s most successful apparel manufacturers, Inditex, which owns Zara stores. Couple divorced years ago, but Mera still holds 7% stake; at time of IPO, also got $600 million in cash, which she’s invested in a Spanish film production outfit, a marine fish farming group, a company that looks for cancer treatment in compounds found in the sea and a maker of a fingerprinting identification system for newborns. Her Paideia Foundation helps people with physical and mental disabilities.

• Elena Baturina - $2.9 billion

Powerful wife of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov started out as a factory worker, then entered the Moscow Institute of Management. In 1991 started plastic-products company Inteko, which produced furniture and crockery but has since expanded into construction and construction materials. Froze construction on several expensive real estate projects in Moscow as result of 2008 financial crisis. Now her newly formed company, Patriot, is focusing on affordable housing. Helped restore gigantic monument, Worker and Collective Farmer, reinstalled in November 2009, at a cost of $100 million.

• Doris Fisher - $2.4 billion

Founded Gap in 1969 with her late husband Donald, who died in September of cancer at age 81. Originally a San Francisco jeans and music store, Gap empire grew to more than 3,000 locations and expanded to include Banana Republic, Gap Kids, and Old Navy. Owns large contemporary art collection. Handed control to sons John, Robert and William in 2004.

• Xiu Li Hawken - $2.4 billion

U.K. citizen is the biggest shareholder in Renhe Commercial Holdings, which listed in Hong Kong in 2008 and runs shopping centers that occupy were underground military shelters. Graduated from China’s Heilongjiang University in 1986 with a degree in Chinese literature.

• Oprah Winfrey - $2.4 billion

Born to a single teenage mother, Oprah grew up on grandmother’s farm in Mississippi. Moved to Wisconsin where she says she was a victim of sexual abuse. Talk show debuted in 1986, now a haven for women worldwide. Guests range from celebrities to politicians to victims of abuse. Expanded empire includes broadcasts around world, O magazine, esteemed book club and “favorite things” lists. Daytime talk queen is moving show to a night slot on new Oprah Winfrey Network cable channel.

• Giuliana Benetton - $2.1 billion

In 1965 formed Benetton group with siblings: Luciano, Carlo and Gilberto. The $2.7 billion (sales) clothing company sells brands like United Colors of Benetton, Sisley. Edizione, the family holding company, owns stakes in Atlantia, one of world’s largest toll-road companies, and Autogrill restaurants, which serve customers on highways and in airports around the world. Giuliana originally knitted sweaters that brother Luciano would then peddled by bicycle.

• Chu Lam Yiu - $2.1 billion

Hong Kogn tycoon chairs Huabao International, which makes tobacco flavorings for China’s top cigarette makers; also makes fragrances and food flavorings for use in detergents, beverages, dairy products and cosmetics. Founded the company a decade ago and took it public through a reverse takeover. Sold chunk of shares in 2008 and again in October 2009; still owns a big stake.

• Zhang Xin - $2 billion

Founded and runs Beijing property developer Soho China with her husband, Pan Shiyi. Last year made the biggest land purchase in Beijing by a non-state-owned company, $586 million in 12 acres. Earned a master’s degree in development economics from Cambridge University in 1992. Got start at international firms Goldman Sachs, Travelers Group.

• Yan Cheung - $1.7 billion

China’s paper queen makes a big comeback: Worth $265 million in October 2008, her fortune is up sixfold with a resurging stock market. Daughter a Guangdong Province army officer and eldest of eight children, Yan got her start importing waste paper in Hong Kong in 1985. After a stint running a recycling plant in the U.S., Yan returned to China to launch Nine Dragons (whose name implies “highest fortune”) with her husband and brother. All three are billionaires; she is chairman.

• Meg Whitman - $1.3 billion

Former eBay head recently won Republican nomination for California governor. Has spent an estimated #70 million from her personal coffers. Got taste for politics as cochair of John McCain’s presidential run in 2008. Joined eBay in 1998; led through Internet boom and bust. Expanded services to Europe, Asia, Latin America. Acquired PayPal, Skype, StubHub. Resigned from boards of eBay, Procter & Gamble and DreamWorks last year to concentrate on gubernatorial race. Earlier in her career, Princeton grad had worked at P&G, Disney and Hasbro.

• Chan Laiwa - $1.1 billion

Real estate investor is developing properties in Jinbao Street, Beijing’s luxury shopping district. Customers and partners include the Regent Hotel, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Ferrari and Lamborghini. Chan is also curator and founder of Chian Red Sandalwood Musuem. Exchanges between the museum and others, such as the Smithsonians, have mader her a “cultural diplomat.”

• Lei Jufang - $1.1 billion

Runs Tibet Cheezheng Tibetan Medicine, which makes ointments, plasters and powders designed to relieve pain and respiratory problems. Shares, first publicly offered in August, trade at 46 times trailing earnings. Has a degree in vacuum physics.

• J.K. Rowling - $1 billion

World’s richest author expecting big 2010. Theme park “The Wizarding World of Harry Potter” opening on June 18 at Universal Studios, Orlando. Film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1 debuting later this year; Part II in 2011. Six previous Potter films have grossed more than $5 billion. Her wizard tales  have been translated in 65 languages. Personal story is nearly as magical: single mother living on welfare completed her first book in 1997. A year later Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone was published in the U.S. and became a literary sensation.

 

Aug. 23 declared regular working day

August 23, a Monday, will be a regular working day, while the death anniversary of Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino Jr. on August 21, a Saturday, will be a non-working holiday.

This was the final decision of President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, contained in a still-unnumbered proclamation as announced by the Palace on Wednesday night.

“The purpose for observing Ninoy Aquino Day on Aug. 21 instead of Aug. 23 is to avoid the imposition of unnecessary financial burden upon the employers, and ensure the continuity of government, business, and commercial transactions, promote productivity while at the same time preserve the solemnity of the observance (of the holiday)," said presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda in a statement.

Aquino’s proclamation in effect junked the “holiday economics" policy of his predecessor while upholding the public observance of his father’s death anniversary on its actual date of occurrence.
The death anniversary of Ninoy, who was gunned down on Aug. 21, 1983 at the then Manila International Airport upon his return from exile, has long been considered a holiday.

"The president is empowered under RA No. 9492 to modify holidays by law, order or proclamation," Lacierda said.

Malacañang however explained that the President took time to reach a final decision because he wanted to avoid undue emphasis on his father, amid public expectation for him to make an early announcement so that workers and students could plan for a possible long weekend.

Under her administration, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo advocated “holiday economics," which meant that if a non-working holiday fell on or near a weekend, the non-work aspect was moved to the nearest Monday, resulting in longer weekends.

GMA News

China milk powder blamed after babies develop breasts

BEIJING, China—Parents and doctors in central China fear that hormones in milk powder they fed their infant daughters have led the babies to prematurely develop breasts, state media reported Monday.

Medical tests
indicated the levels of hormones in three girls, ranging in age from four to 15 months and who were fed the same baby formula, exceeded those of the average adult woman, the China Daily reported.

"The amount of hormones in the babies definitely means there's a problem," Yang Qin, the chief physician in the child care department at the Hubei Maternity and Children's Hospital, was quoted as saying.

"The parents should stop using the formula to feed their children and the powder should be analyzed."

Local food safety authorities however refused a parent's request to investigate the formula made by Synutra, based in the eastern city of Qingdao, saying they do not conduct tests at consumers' behest, the report said.

The suspected baby formula was still being sold in the Hubei provincial capital Wuhan—at discounted prices—and was still on store shelves in Beijing despite the concerns which surfaced last month, the Global Times said.

Synutra insisted that its products were safe.

"No man-made 'hormones' or any illegal substances were added during production," it said in a statement.

The infants showed unusually high levels of the hormones estradiol and prolactin, the China Daily said.

Wang Dingmian, the former chairman of the dairy association in the southern province of Guangdong, told the China Daily that the hormones could have entered the food chain when farmers reared the cattle.

"Since a regulation forbidding the use of hormones to cultivate livestock has yet to be drawn up in China, it would be lying to say nobody uses it," Wang was quoted as saying.

Chinese dairy products were recalled worldwide in 2008 after it was revealed that melamine, which is used to make plastics, was widely and illegally added to the products to give the appearance of higher protein.

Melamine was found in the products of 22 Chinese dairy companies in a massive scandal blamed for the deaths of at least six infants and for sickening 300,000 others in China.

Inquirer

'Toyota defense' frees US man jailed in fatal car crash

A Minnesota man convicted in a fatal car crash was freed from prison after a judge ordered a new trial to examine evidence about Toyota's "sticky" accelerator pedals, local media reported.

In a statement issued after the ruling, a Minnesota county attorney said authorities would not pursue a new trial against Koua Fong Lee, who was released Thursday after almost two-and-a-half years in prison.

The decision comes after Toyota was forced to recall millions of vehicles worldwide to fix accelerator pedals that in some models would get stuck, sending the vehicle hurtling out of control.

Lee was serving an eight-year term on charges of criminal vehicular homicide stemming from a 2006 car crash that killed three people, the Minnesota Star Tribune reported.

But Lee had protested that he was trying to brake his 1996 Toyota Camry when it crashed into the back of an Olds Ciera.

District Judge Joanne Smith said she had ordered the new hearing on the basis of testimony provided by witnesses who said their own Toyota Camrys had spiraled out of control.

"They were credible," the newspaper quoted her as saying.

After the ruling, Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner said her office would dismiss the charges against Lee.

"I respect the judge, and I respect her ruling, and I believe it is time to bring this very tragic situation to a close," she said in a statement.

"We will not pursue a new trial. We will dismiss the charges against Mr. Lee."

The case is the first criminal US conviction to be successfully challenged on the basis of problems with Toyota vehicles, and could serve as precedent in similar cases.

Toyota was forced to pull some 10 million vehicles worldwide and faces a slew of lawsuits over "unintended acceleration" issues blamed for more than 80 deaths in the United States.

- MSN

Hollywood’s Highest-paid Actresses

Hollywood can be a tough town for women, but these 10 actresses manage to bring in the big bucks. To figure out earnings we talked to agents, managers, producers and lawyers to determine what stars earned as upfront and back-end pay from June 2009 to June 2010. We also looked at earnings from things like clothing lines, perfume and make-up endorsements.

- Forbes

• Sandra Bullock - $56 million

With two hit movies (The Proposal and The Blind Side) and an Oscar win, Bullock should have been sitting on top of the world. She is financially. With $56 million she’s the highest-earning actress. But a messy breakup with cheating husband Jesse James turned her into tabloid fodder. Bullock overcame adversity with news of an adoption and a return to public life at the MTV Movie Awards.

• Reese Witherspoon - $32 million

Witherspoon’s face hasn’t been seen on the big screen since Christmas 2008 when she starred with Vince Vaughn in Four Christmasses. She’ll return this holiday season with a new James Brooks comedy titled How Do You Know? co-starring Jack Nicholson, Paul Rudd and Owen Wilson.

 

•  Cameron Diaz - $32 million

Thanks to her work in the Shrek films Diaz has a nice, steady income, but she also gets big bucks to appear in romantic films like the action comedy Knight & Day, co-starring Tom Cruise. Diaz also start with ex-boyfriend Justin Timberlake as a foul-mouthed educator in the film Bad Teacher.

 

• Jennifer Aniston - $27 million

Box-office stinkers like Love Happens and The Bounty Hunter  can’t stop America’s sweetheart. Aniston still gets tons of press attention and decent-sized upfront paydays for romantic comedies like Just Go With It, co-starring Adam Sandler. Aniston also earns from Friends re-runs and lucrative deal with Glaceau Smartwater.

 

• Sarah Jessica Parker - $25 million

Between the TV series and movie franchise, Sex and the City will keep Parker in Manolos for years to come. The actress also has a successful line of perfumes that brought in $24 million in the U.S. in 2009. Parker is now helping to design clothes for fashion label Halston.

 

• Julia Roberts - $20 million

Roberts is no longer the draw she was in the days of movies like Erin Brockovich and Runaway Bride. Instead she is focusing on more personal movies like Eat Pray Love, based on the bestseller by Elizabeth Gilbert. Roberts will star opposite Tom Hanks for the second time in Larry Crowne, about a man reinventing himself.

 

• Angelina Jolie - $20 million

The mom of six is a constant tabloid presence with 38 magazine covers in the last 12 months. She also makes movies. Jolie lost some ground this year because she didn’t have a new movie in our time frame. But she continues to cement her bankability with big thrillers like Salt and The Tourist, co-starring Johnny Depp.

 

• Drew Barrymore - $15 million

Barrymore made her directorial debut in 2009 with the film Whip It. Unfortunately, it didn’t whip up much business at the box office, earning only $17 million globally. Stil,, Barrymore is working hard to build a career behind the camera. She was the executive producer on the successful film He’s Just Not That Into You.

 

• Meryl Streep - $13 million

At 60 Streep is still big at the box office. She had two hits in 2009 with Julie & Julia and It’s Complicated, which earned a collective $350 million at the global box office. She also earned a record 16th Oscar nomination for her work as chef Julia Child. The actress has no firm plans for her next film.

 

• Kristen Stewart - $12 million

The 20-year old Stewart is recognizable to teens around the world as Bella, the human caught between a vampire and a werewolf in the Twilight series. The movies have so far earned $1.6 billion at the box office and made Stewart a star. She stretched her wings this yera with the rock biopic The Runaways, playing Joan Jett.

Susan Boyle's money trouble

'Wild Horses' singer Susan Boyle is reportedly living on just £300 a week after being denied access to her huge fortune.

Susan Boyle is being paid just £300 a week.

The singing sensation - who sold over 8.5 million copies of her debut LP 'I Dreamed A Dream', and is believed to have earned over £10 million in royalties after finding fame on 'Britain's Got Talent' - is 'distressed' at having to live off the low wage, after being banned from withdrawing money from the bank or owning a credit card.

Her brother Gerry Boyle said: 'Her millions are ring-fenced but Susan has no concept of money. She was extremely distressed.'

Susan's fortune is currently being looked after by her management team - consisting of Andy Stephens, Ossie Killkenny, and Susan's lawyer niece Kirsty Foy - and she is unable to access it herself.

Susan's financial situation is so bad, Gerry claims she has been unable to move into her new £300,000 home in Blackburn, West Lothian, because she can't afford to buy furniture.

Gerry told the News of the World newspaper: 'Susan said to me, 'I've been told I get £300 a week because I'm a novice. I don't have the money to go and buy the furniture.'

'She should be able to walk into a bank anywhere and say she wants £50,000 cash. That may not be advisable, but it would be her choice because it's her money.'

The 'Wild Horses' singer was even forced to call an emergency meeting on June 17 to discuss her financial troubles and is concerned this means her career could be coming to an end.

Gerry has now pleaded for music mogul Simon Cowell - who owns her label SyCo and was a 'Britain's Got Talent' judge - to reassure Susan her record deal isn't under threat.

He said: 'Susan's under the impression that her management can take her career away. Obviously that's not the case. But I've asked for someone Susan trusts at SyCo - even Simon himself - to simply confirm she will not lose her contract.

'She should be riding high, developing her career, travelling the world. She shouldn't be worried about money when she has millions in the bank.'

A SyCo spokesperson said: 'Finances are handled directly between an artist and their management, therefore we do not comment on such matters.'

Originally posted here.