Not sure how to describe this…WP not behaving as expected

I have been using the hosted service at wordpress.com for some time now, with no real problems other than a learning curve.

I made a decision to start a new blog, but this time on my own website. I would rate my skills as better than novice but no better than beginner. I think I know what should be expecting, but WP is not delivering.

First off, after creating a new user with admin authority, WP would let me login, but apparently on a whim, the logged in user would change from Pollik to admin. Clearing cookies and the cache sorted that out.

So far, I have made three posts. https://roadfaring.pollik.org.uk/

The first (The Countdown Begins Here) was posted by admin…that appears on the blog. It also shows on the list posts on the Dashboard.

The second (The Countdown Begins Here) was posted by pollik…that also appears on the blog and is a duplicate of the first post, the only difference being the user posting it. This entry, however, does NOT appear on the list of posts on the Dashboard.

The third (Another day less) was also posted by pollik…however this one does not appear on the home page of the blog, nor does it appear on the list of posts on the Dashboard. But it does appear appear here…https://roadfaring.pollik.org.uk/?p=21

I don’t even know where to begin trying to understand this, and I am rapidly losing the will to live. My frustration is not helped by being on a mobile satellite internet connection in my motorhome…it, um, not fast.

Can anyone give me any pointers as to what I might be doing wrong, please?

Polly