Windows Live Mail – blocking emails and receiving emails automatically

I have two questions in relation to Windows Live Mail

1. For the past 3 weeks I have not been receiving email messages automatically, I have to "sync all email accounts" in order for the emails to come through?

2. For the past 3 weeks also, many senders that I have previously blocked are now getting through to my inbox. I have retried blocking them many times.

Any help is much appreciated, thanks.