Timelines?

On an episode of the English show Grand Designs I was watching the other night, Kevin McCloud stated something along the lines of - when building people want three things, a great design, to meet their timeline and budget, but unfortunately you hardly ever get all three.

So if this is the case what would you give up? I suppose if I really had a choice probably timeline and at this point that is exactly what is happening, so maybe I should be sort of happy about that?

Anyway on a bathroom that was meant to take three to four weeks we have really blown our timeline. We are now nearing end of week four and still no sign of a plasterer. We have been told we may get one this Friday but not sure as yet as they haven't chosen which one they are going with. We are meant to find out tomorrow exactly what is happening, so fingers crossed.