Thank you for your time and the reply Uwe, I appreciate it.
I checked the instructions again and again. The sidebar settings in the editor of the homepage are like this: http://imghst.co/54/1_sidebar_setting_on_homepage.PNG
The settings in Appearance/Theme editor/ Sidebars are the same and…
..the custom queries do show up! (:
A mistake must have slipped through somewhere. The custom queries do show up on the right pages now (:
Although editing a ‘404’ template that affects my homepage is a bit confusing but it works (screenshot).
Joël