No 12204, Tuesday 02 Jan 2018, Incognito

Answer and annotation for 23A and 25D left for a first-time commenter till 10AM.

ACROSS
1   Going out around carnival, initially, is thrilling (8) EXCITING {EX{Ca...l}ITING}
5  Sailors lie back and descend at the end of a rope (6) ABSEIL {ABS}{LIE<=}
10 Private thoughts are carried by the main nerves (5) INNER [T]
11 He, who is gratified by pain, mistreats his mascot (9) MASOCHIST*
12 This emoticon was employed by the Circus, as mentioned in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (6) SMILEY [DD]

13 Huge caper after a performance (8) GIGANTIC {GIG}{ANTIC}
15 Fuse carbon and hydrogen in a country (5) CHINA {C}{H}{IN}{A}

17 City where mother backs by a heel (9) ROTTERDAM {ROTTER}{DAM}
19 Small person's missile (9) MINUTEMAN {MINUTE}{MAN}

20 Master, after losing son, becomes more gentle (5) TAMER MAsTER*
21 Indian bread covered with minty chutney (not new) becomes a contaminant (8) IMPURITY {MInTY}* over {PURI}
23 Vegetable that is found in long bones? (6) ?A?R?? (Addendum - MARROW [DD] - See comments)
27 Break apart around old woman's inn at last and get an evening drink (9) SUNDOWNER {SUND{O}{W}{inN}ER}
28 My Spanish-French friend is in American city (5) MIAMI {MI}{AMI}
29 Latest tenancy charges around London district (6) RECENT {R{EC}ENT}
30 Loss of courage — cause/result of frost-bite? (4,4) COLD FEET [DD]

DOWN
1   Some sort of spice results in great stories (5) EPICS*
2   Stipulation can modify behaviour (9) CONDITION [DD]
3   Number of musketeers hiding in undergrowth/reeds (5) THREE [T]
4   One, for example, has no hesitation to make you senseless (4) NUMB NUMBer
6   Bangalore University artist dives back into chest to get some capital (9) BUCHAREST {BU}{CH{RA<=}EST}
7   Be as a team in East Street (5) EXIST {E}{XI}{ST}
8   A person who arrives after time can be a mere clot (9) LATECOMER*
9   Helping donkey is troublesome at first in Germany (9) ASSISTING {ASS}{IS}{Tr...e}{IN}{G}
14 Making about a thousand and burning (9) CREMATING {CRE{M}ATING}
15 Russian officer found Marco misbehaving and hugging young lady (9) COMMISSAR {COM{MISS}AR*}
16 PM's time for siesta (9) AFTERNOON [CD]
18 Hesitate, with anger, and charge (9) DEMURRAGE {DEMUR}{RAGE}
22 The button to press when dad is not totally pleasant (5) PANIC {PA}{NICe} Semi &lit
24 Targeted at All India medical education director at first (5) AIMED Acrostic
25 Audibly useless area near the end of the spine (5) ??I?T (Addendum - WAIST (~waste) - See comments)
26 So, Latin ogre went back (4) ERGO <=

GRID

Bhargav's Tale

Good AFTERNOON Ladies and Gentlemen,

The RECENT news brings us EXCITING times ahead!!
Yes, it is the Jumbo Crossword that will be clued by you all.
Hey just one MINUTE MAN. No PANIC.
The only CONDITION is that only two or THREE clues will be given to those who wish to send in their entries.
No COLD FEET there. Newbies who want to hone their skills are most welcome.
It is AIMED for release on the THCC Anniversary. Don't be a LATECOMER!!
Our COMMISSAR?  Oh no. Our Colonel is eagerly awaiting your entries. Frame your
Clues, have your SUNDOWNER and send them with a SMILEY!!!